He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.” vs. 31
Mark 1:29-31
Mark adds a personal touch to his story by telling how Jesus healed Simon’s mother-in-law during a Saturday afternoon visit to the family home. Whether Mark intended it or not we can’t help but be amused at what happened. A cynic would say that this healing was done as much to benefit the helpless men as it was the feverish woman. She got healed and they got served! More than that though, the story shows that much of ministry simply happens in the course of everyday living. As we’re going about our business we encounter hurting folks–and often they’re members of our own families. Rather than focus on helping those at a distance we need to recognize that often it’s those who are close to us who need our careful attention. A husband or a wife can easily be neglected in our rush to serve others, not to mention the children who are ignored while mom and dad are off doing good works. There are too many stories about children who grow up with a jaundiced view of church because they needed attention–and their parents were too busy helping Jesus! On the other hand, we’ll always remember how we were tended through our various illnesses by family members who loved us deeply. In those moments love grows and flourishes!
Thought for the Day: How do I serve my family?
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