“According to your faith let it be done to you.”
According to my what?!? My faith? What does my faith have to do with what happens to me? Faith in what? Faith in whom? Faith in myself or faith in another? Is something bad supposed to happen to me?
What thoughts came to mind when you read “According to your faith let it be done to you.”? Would you care to discover the context in which this sentence was spoken? Let me take you to Matthew 9:27-31…
“And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, “Have mercy on us, Son of David.” When he entered the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” Then he touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be done to you.” And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, “See that no one knows it.” But they went away and spread his fame through all that district.”
As they sat to one side begging for alms, the two blind men must have overheard the exhilarating joy that came out of the woman who had touched Jesus’ garment and who was instantaneously healed from a hemorrhage she had suffered from for twelve years. (Matt 9: 20-22) They must have also heard the news of the ruler’s young daughter who was brought back to life. (Matt 9: 18-19; 23-26) Word had gotten around that it was this man named Jesus who was performing all these miracles. Was he like King Solomon, the son of David, who God had empowered to exorcize demons? Was this man the long awaited “Davidic Messiah”? (Matt 12:23 commentary of the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible) The two heard the trampling of feet approaching from all directions and they sensed the excitement in the air. That man named Jesus must be near to draw in a crowd like that and so they cried out…”Have mercy on us, Son of David.”
Have you called out to Jesus, the Son of God, and received some form of healing? Has another called out to Him, on your behalf, so you would be healed? Has a heavy weight been lifted from your shoulders as you decided to offer your troubles to Him? Have you experienced a deep joy and/or an inner peace which permeated your very being and have since been able to rest? Have you experienced the warm arms of love embracing you and a comfort which you have never tasted before?
What have you done with the miracle you’ve received? Did you run out and share the news as the now sighted men did or did you keep the victory to yourself? Jesus didn’t warn you not to spread the news as he did with the former blind men. He had specifically instructed them not to share the news so that He could carry on His public work without being constantly stopped by those asking to be healed. And yet, the word spread because the people could not keep the excitement and joy to themselves. They had a zeal to share this joy with others and perhaps they wanted others to experience the same … and Jesus healed… because they believed. What have you done with your miracle?
The ailments and suffering experienced today are just as rampant as it was in Jesus’ time, if not more. And yet, why have we not heard of many who have been healed by the loving touch of Jesus? Is it because Jesus has stopped performing miracles? I don’t think so. I believe it is because many are too ashamed to admit that they have problems and many would prefer to keep their circumstances private less others look down on them. And yet, Jesus continues to heal. Others are ashamed to mention the name of Jesus in public places less they are shunned by those who do not think it politically correct to mention God’s name, let alone believe in Him. And yet, Jesus continues to heal. How will those who are struggling and suffering in this world know that Jesus heals if no one dares to speak up?
In spite of what society has dictated, some have run with the news and shared it with others … and that is why Jesus continues to heal. These few have dared to share their faith because they “hear” the silent cry of others and they recognize the pain in the eyes of their peers. It’s a scary world out there and we need each other and yet, many are afraid to reach out because we choose, instead, to conform to society.
1 Peter 3: 15 teaches…
“… Always be prepared to make a defence to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence.” There may not be another visibly attacking your faith, but there is one, the Father’s arch enemy called the devil, who is working behind the scenes, doing his best to keep ALL from receiving the Father’s healing touch. We may not see his hand, but let us not be deceived that he is not present because he is invisible to our human eyes. His presence in this world is clearly evident to those whose eyes have been “opened”. Why have many been swayed to remain quiet rather than share their faith? Why have many kept their healing a secret rather than share their miracle with the hope and faith that another would be healed because they shared?
Father, we ask for Your grace and Your courage to take a stand and to speak boldly, and yet in love, so that the rest of the world will know that there is One, Your Son Jesus, who is waiting to be invited and to heal.
God bless,
Melissa (May 31, 2011)