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Scripture for the day: Matthew 9:18-29 As Jesus was saying this (he was speaking of fasting and how His disciples would certainly pray and fast when He was taken from them and returned to heaven), a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.” So Jesus arose and followed him, and so did His disciples. And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment. For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.” But Jesus turned around, and when He saw her He said, “Be of good cheer, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And the woman was made well from that hour.
When Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing, He said to them, “Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping.” And they ridiculed Him. But when the crowd was put outside, He went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. And the report of this went out into all that land.
When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!” And when He had come into 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 to you.”
Thought for the day: I know this is a much longer passage of scripture than usual but there’s something incredibly significant about it, and we need to take the story as a whole rather than three separate incidents somehow fused together. I think our focus here needs to be the catalyst for the miracles that were happening in such rapid succession.
 Jesus was sitting with his disciples and teaching those of John the Baptist about fasting and prayer when a leader of the local Synagogue burst into the room, throwing himself upon the mercies of this well-known healer, Jesus.  Look and be amazed, at his words: “My daughter has died, but you can bring her back if you will just come.”  Does that statement seem amazing to anyone other than me?  There isn’t a hint of doubt in what that man said.  There doesn’t seem to be a question in his mind about Jesus’ ability to provide the life his daughter so desperately needed. As a result, Jesus and his disciples left the party and headed straight for the man’s home.
 As they were going a woman pushed her way through the crowd (a social no-no of the worst kind – first, she was a woman and, second, she was “unclean” because of her illness) and touched the hem of Jesus’ robe thinking, “If only I can get to Jesus, I’ll be healed.”  I don’t know if this story can get any more amazing!  No doubt, no wondering, just certainty that the answer to her deepest need was to be found in this Jesus.  And so it was.
 Jesus continues on to the man’ s house, heals his daughter in spite of the ridicule of the mourners gathered in the sitting room (by the way, I truly believe he put the crowd outside because of their unbelief; it stifled the power of those of faith).  His fame grew by leaps and bounds and, as he was leaving some blind men began to follow him as best they could, all the while crying out for healing.  They had the audacity to make their way into the home in which he’d stopped to visit, pleading for a bit of the mercy he’d shown to others to be cast their way as well.  Jesus immediately confronted them concerning their faith.  You see, it’s one thing to desire God’s mercy; it’s quite another to believe He can actually do something about your situation.  But in response to their statement He said, “Because of your faith, it will happen.”
 “You have not because you ask not, and when you do ask you ask with the wrong motives…”  James tells us.  Here’s the question: do you believe He can?  Do you believe He wants to?  Do you have the right motive in asking, i.e. is it for your glory, or for His?
Now go take on your world.  -  Bill