Scripture
When they arrived at the house, Jesus wouldn’t let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, James, and the little girl’s father and mother. The house was filled with people weeping and wailing, but he said, “Stop the weeping! She isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” But the crowd laughed at him because they all knew she had died. But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. Luke 8:51-55.
Application
Many people are comfortable living a life that doesn't challenge their status quo or what they have held onto for years. Meanwhile, to do anything remarkable or memorable faith must be involved. You will probably agree with me that a life of faith is not the usual life.
When you take a stand based on faith you might probably be the outlier, the odd one out. Think of the characters you admire the most either in the bible, contemporary life or history, they must have demonstrated some level of faith. Faith expressed in actions makes an individual stand out.
It's actually common to see individuals professing they have faith. Where the fall off begins is when asked to demonstrate that faith when it counts. Why? Well, first, faith involves risk. It's not natural. It is supernatural. It deals with certainty of belief in the unknown. It includes not calling or saying things as they are, but as they should be. That is why Abraham was probably mocked and laughed at when he changed his name from Abram to Abraham, which means father of many nations. Yet he did not have a child.
Jesus faced a similar situation in our scripture verses for today. He went to Jairus' house to raise his daughter from the dead. When he entered the house it was filled with people who were weeping and wailing. Jesus told them the child was not dead but only sleeping. He called that situation what it should be, not what it is. Of course He was mocked.
What Jesus did next is telling. He chased out all the mourners and allowed only Peter, John, James (his trusted disciples), and the girl’s father and mother. Why? He doesn't want the mourners to spread their fear and unbelief to contaminate everyone else. Faith would change the situation while fear would kill faith.
Now that the hindrance had been taken out of the way, Jesus raised the girl back to life. How? Since He believed that she was only sleeping even though she was physically dead, He only told her to wake up. He acted according to what He professed and believed.
What are the lessons today?
- Faith would make you stand out.
- The majority would probably disagree with you.
- Chase out those that keep feeding your fear instead of your faith.
- Call the situation what you want it to be.
- Act in agreement with your profession.
Prayer Points
- Father, thank you for the life of faith.
- Father give me a living faith.
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