I do not exactly how your relationship with God works, but since you are human like me (you are human right?), you more than likely do some of the things that I do. I came across a familiar story this morning, but as I read it, it was seen with fresh eyes. It forms the basis for the devotion this week. Let’s read the scripture to get the full picture. Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for 18 years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God. Luke 13:10-14 This day was not unlike other days in Jesus ministry. He was at church with a bunch of other people worshiping and focusing on God. One of the things we can forget about, is that when we come to church there are people all around us who, like us, have secret things that no one knows, they have pain and sickness in their bodies, some are disillusioned, and others have been in a certain condition for years without relief. We sometimes come to a bible study or church and our focus in entirely on us. Will I like the music? Will the sermon be good? What am I doing after church? Where will go eat later? Who is playing soccer today? It is amazing how we come to worship for the sole purpose of honoring God and spend our time focusing on the things that have to do with our lives – all in a place where we have come to focus solely on God and others. When we focus so much on us, we forget that there are so many other people around us who need a friend, an encouraging word, someone to sit by them, or just a friendly smile or handshake.
In our story, there was a woman who for 18 years was stricken by something that caused her to be bent over and not be able to straighten herself. Can you imagine that? 18 years of a body that could not get straight. Could that describe you and I in some area of our lives? Most likely all of us have issues that are so heavy they cause to not walk straight emotionally and spiritually, but the weight of them causes us to be “bent”. No matter how much we try, the issue just seems to remain. After a long time, it feels defeating and we may even wonder if we can ever find relief.
We do not know if she had gone to many doctors for help and we do not even know if she came to church on this day knowing that Jesus would be there. We simply do not know. For me personally, here is where the story gets unique. The text indicates that she was not near Jesus, she was not coming to him, it simply says that she was there in the synagogue. Too often I am afraid, I find myself coming seeking out God for what I desire him to do in me, for my family, or in Germany. Of course we should come to him and say what is on our hearts, we just need to make sure the request lines up with His will. She may have had no idea that her hope was going to be at church that day. She most likely did not come expecting God to move in her and bring his healing. But God, is different than you and I.
What is interesting in the story are these words, “When Jesus saw her, he called her over.” Jesus sought her out in the worship service. He saw her need and he called her to come to him. Think about that for a moment. She did not come seeking him, but she found that he was seeking after her. She was not looking at him, but he was looking at her. We forget that Jesus is a seeking God and deeply desires to bring his healing into our lives in moments when we may least expect it.
She did not come looking for an encounter with Jesus, but she got one because Jesus is a God who seeks encounters with us.
The bible her says , “He called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.” And he laid his hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and she glorified God.She comes, Jesus touches, and the crooked part of her life is immediately made straight. Is it really any wonder that she glorified God. Jesus can and will come at times when we least expect it, and what a moment that is when we taste and experience his presence.
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