“And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
Mark 1:29-31 ESV
Peter & Andrew brought Jesus to their house where Peter’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever. After Jesus came to know about it, He took hold of her hand and lifted her up. Immediately the fever left her. You see, Peter and Andrew didn’t hesitate to bring Jesus to their home after pledging to follow Him. Neither did Peter ran back to tidy the house before Jesus came in. Discipleship begins with inviting Jesus to your “home” just as it is – the home is the place where you will likely let your hair down, and behaving as your true self, conducting your relationship with people at home as usual. No pretense. No cover-up. No camouflage. Genuine conversion and discipleship began when someone comes to Jesus “just as I am” and open his/her life(home) to Him. In Rev 3:20, while Jesus stands at the door and knock there would some(including believers) who hesitate to open the door because they are busily tidying up their house, hide their garbages and put up a neat nice front before inviting Him in. Let’s not belong to this group of believers!
On another note, when you follow Jesus, open your household to Him as well. Introduce each member to Jesus. Jesus doesn’t recruit “secret” followers but people who openly identify with Him not only in the open community or church but in the home. And the next miracle that can happen is that your entire household will be saved! Acts 16:31 tells us that “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household”
The record of the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law shows us that when Jesus comes into your life and family, healing will be released to anyone needing it. Being healed enabled Peter’s mother-in-law to function well to serve Jesus and the household. The moment Jesus release healing to you, he restored your capacity and remove your limitations to serve!
Reflection Pointers:
- Genuine discipleship calls for a life of transparency before Jesus. Come in your true self with all your natural weaknesses and limitations. There is no need to pretend or ensure that you are good enough neither should you think you are not good enough to be accepted by Jesus.
- If you are praying for salvation of your family, introduce Jesus to your family, and your family to Jesus and allow Him to do a salvation miracle in your household!
- If there are challenges in your life that limit your capacity to serve, invite Jesus into your challenges, and wait for the miracle that restores that capacity to serve!