John 4: 43-54
Did Jesus answer my prayer, or was it my own hard work that landed the promotion? Is my friend feeling better because God intervened, or did the doctor coincidentally find the cure? When I was kind to a person who'd hurt me, was it the result of God leading me to forgive, or my own self-control?
Jesus was welcomed back to Galilee after many had seen all He'd done in Jerusalem at Passover. Immediately a royal official comes to Jesus begging for his son's healing, the son was near death. "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders, you will never believe", Jesus states in John 4:48. He knew their hearts. They weren't going to believe the Scriptures, or His testimony, but the miracles they could see brought them to believe that Jesus was the Messiah.
Jesus heals the official's son without seeing him. "You may go. Your son will live." , He tells the man. While the man is still making his way home, servants meet him with the news that his son was living. When he asks the servants what time his son got better, he can see that it was at the exact time that Jesus had told him, "Your son will live." The man and all his household believe.
Daily we bring our requests before Jesus. It's the best place to bring them. Just look at the royal official's son - Jesus was able to heal him without even making a house call. The things that we might call coincidence, hard work, self-control are really present day miracles. God listens to our prayers, and, as He alone knows the end from the beginning, answers them in love with the very best answers. No coincidence - a loving Hand. We may work hard - but who gave us health and opportunity to work? And self-control flies out the window when it really is our self in control and not the presence of God's Holy Spirit leading us!
Jesus knew the people had to see miracles to believe. May He open our eyes to the miracles He performs in our life each day to strengthen our belief!
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