Peter's Mother-In-Law

Last night I read two verses that challenged me:

When Jesus went into Peter's house, He saw his mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. Then she got up and began to serve Him.
Matthew 8:14-15


There are times in life when we are just sick. It may be an actual illness, or exhaustion of some sort. Whatever it is, Jesus will come to heal us at the right time. That is when we have a choice. Do we lay there thinking about how sick we had been? Do we go around telling everyone how sick and miserable we were? Or, do we just get up and serve our Lord?

This is not to say that Peter's mother-in-law didn't think about her illness, or that she didn't share with others what she has just experienced. She just chose to make serving Jesus her number one priority. The rest she could do along the way - to the glory of God the Father.


What has Jesus taken you by the hand and healed you of lately? Have you accepted His healing, or are you still laying there? Have you got on with serving Him, or did you get stuck in the bog of "just can't let it go"? Nothing was ever said about stuffing her illness down and pretending it never happened. This record is what she is remembered for. She is remembered for being sick when Jesus came - He reached out and took her by the hand - and she served the Master. Have you ever thought about the fact He might have healed her for that purpose? To serve Him?

What will you be known for?