Jesus is Essential
Luke 13:10–13: Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.
She had come under the attack of an evil spirit eighteen years before that bound her up like a hobbled animal. She lived in a posture of forced humility, her face always toward the dust of the earth, unless she wrenched sideways and peered upward like an awkward animal. She seemed to sink lower and lower as the weight of years pressed upon her. Her gait was a lunging shuffle. “She walked about as if she were searching for a grave.”
At times she probably wished she could find one. And yet this woman’s spiritual focus was upward. She was evidently a regular worshiper at the synagogue, for no one took special note of her. Due to her infirmity it would have been much easier to stay at home, but to her credit she sought the solace of worship and the Word. 1
Walking with Jesus
We all suffer difficulty. Sometimes it is intense for a season. Sometimes it can be unrelenting for a lifetime. We can not control the circumstances, but we can control our attitude and response. Ask the Holy Spirit for His help right now. Ask for His comfort and His courage.
And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God. Luke 17:15
To persevere with hope through hard times is how we glorify God.
Praying
Lord, thank You for being my Savior and my Healer.
1. Hughes, R. K. (1998). Luke: that you may know the truth. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
