Scripture to Read: Luke 5:14–16
After Jesus had healed the man with leprosy; God had Luke record this in Luke 5:14–16, “And He ordered him to tell no one, ‘But go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’ 15 But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and large crowds were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray.” We find throughout the Gospels that Jesus, after performing a miracle, would command people to keep quiet about the miracle they had just witnessed. Jesus did this knowing that His time for the cross had not yet come, but that it would happen in God’s perfect timing, as recorded in Daniel 9. Jesus healed, not just to meet the needs of the individual, but to show His power as the Messiah so that others would believe in Him as Lord and Savior. But God had Luke record that word continued to spread quickly about Jesus, and many sought Him out so they also could be healed. Sadly, many people seek our Lord today only in times of crisis yet remain unwilling to surrender to Him as Lord. But God is not a genie waiting to grant the wishes of mankind. We must continually worship Him as Lord, King, Master, and Savior. We also see that Jesus often withdrew to spend time in fellowship with our Heavenly Father. We definitely need this daily to stay refreshed, renewed, and revived in our fellowship with our Lord.
Challenge & Application
Why do so many people want a miracle from our Lord but are still unwilling to surrender to Him as their Lord?
How do we stay in right fellowship with our Lord, and why is daily time alone with our Lord and His Word so crucial for us to grow?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!