Faith To Be Healed

     In Paul Scott's novel "The Jewel in the Crown",
blind Sister Ludmilla describes a conversation she once had with God. 
They talked about the old woman's disabilities:

     "I'm sorry about your eyes," He said, "but there's nothing I can
do unless you want a miracle."

     "No," she said, "no miracle thank You.  I shall get used to it
and I expect You will help me."

     "Anyway, when you've lived a long time and can hardly hobble
about on sticks and spend most of the day in bed, your eyes aren't
much use.  I would need three miracles, one for the eyes, one for the
legs and one to take twenty years off my age!"

     "Three miracles for one old woman!  What a waste!  Besides ...
miracles are to convince the unconvinced.  What do You take me for? 
An unbeliever?"

     In her humility Sister Ludmilla was hesitant to ask God for a
miracle but I am afraid that I have no such problem. Personally, I am
thankful that God cares about me enough that He is interested in what
my problems are and wants to help.  Miracles do not necessarily have
to be big or flashy ones, but big problems require big answers.

     To show us that God is indeed interested, Jesus told us that we
shouldn't worry about our food, clothing or shelter as the Gentiles
did, because "your heavenly Father knows that you need all these
things." Matt. 6:32. He is not saying that these things are not
important, but that we should first keep our priorities straight. 
These things are real needs, but we should "Seek first the kingdom of
God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to
you." (v. 33)

     The apostle Paul then reinforces this teaching in Phil. 4:19
where he says, "And my God shall supply all your need ..."  God is
indeed concerned about our every need, and there is no real limit to
what he is doing for us as He gives "according to His riches in glory
..."  But He also does it in His own way since everything He does is
"in Christ Jesus."  God is very pleased with His Son and works only
through Jesus.

     Many would like to be able to come to God in some other way, but
He doesn't recognize them.  That is why so many prayers go unanswered
and so many needs unmet.  No, it was Jesus who came to live and die on
this earth with us and it is he that is now at the right hand of God
the Father speaking on our behalf.  If you have needs for your life
and need answers, Jesus will open the door so that we can, "... come
boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace
to help in time of need." Heb. 4:16.

Frank Cooke