"I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it." John 14:12-14 (NIV)
If we are followers of Jesus, we
are encouraged to do what Jesus has been doing all along: "As the Father, has
loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love." John 15:9 (NIV) While on
this earth, Jesus showed genuine love towards everyone He encountered. He was
always encouraging others, and His truest act of love was demonstrated when He
willingly died on a lonely cross to bring multitudes back to our Heavenly Father
so that we could receive life without end.
"Righteous Father, though the world does not know you,
I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them,
and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may
be in them and that I myself may be in them." John 17:25-26 (NIV) Jesus'
compassion was endless. When the sobbing Martha faced Jesus after her brother's
death, "Jesus wept." John 11:35 (NIV), even though moments later He would raise
Lazarus from the dead!
He cares, He loves, He is filled with compassion. This
was His mission: "Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues,
preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness
among the people." Matthew 4:23 (NIV) Jesus wanted anyone to know the Good News
of reconciliation with our Heavenly Father. He doesn't want us to wander around
without hope. He brought hope and the promise of eternal life. However, Jesus
also focused on healing our diseases, and by His actions, He demonstrated that
what He said was true!
We are encouraged to follow in His footsteps by
genuinely loving others and demonstrating total dependence upon our Heavenly
Father. Compassion, as well as sharing the Good News, should be our norm, but in
addition to this, we are to walk with Jesus in healing.
Naturally, we can't do this in our own power. It can
only happen when we rely solely on the One who heals: Jesus Christ: "Whoever
claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." 1 John 2:6 (NIV). All we need is
the faith of a tiny mustard seed. Jesus promised that he would do everything for
us, and if we know Jesus, we know that He will always keep His promises. He will
do whatever we ask in His name. We can heal others only by depending on The
Miracle Maker.
If you have never experience healing, why not try it
on yourself or a loved one? Let me illustrate by relating a recent event that
happened in my family.
I suffer from sleep apnea. It's quite an awful
experience to suffocate while sleeping due to the collapse of your own tongue
into your airway, and the common remedy, the C-PAP machine, doesn't work for me.
Instead, I use a special chin strap that prevents my tongue from blocking my
airway.
When we travelled to Watkins Glen last October,
however, I accidently left my chin strap at home. At first, I panicked, then my
wife began to pray for my healing. We both felt the peace that comes solely from
my Father, and we weren't really surprised when I had no trouble. In fact, I
slept like a log (though who knows, really, how logs sleep!), and I awoke
refreshed and full of energy. I was healed! And why not? After all, I can trust
my Heavenly Father!
Healings confirm that there is a loving God who cares
for us. If we have no faith we can ask our Heavenly Dad for help. He is the One
who heals. If you hesitate, find some gung-ho Christians who believe in the
power of God and start experiencing our Father for yourself. Never will you
forget that our Heavenly Father really cares for you, and no one will ever be
able to convince you that our Father doesn't exist! My Heavenly Dad is way
bigger than all these doubts. After all, He loves us explicitly!
Healing is within your reach!
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.