ICS Daily Devotions
Hold on to the Word
Mark 5:23-29, 34-36 And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him. Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment; for she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.” Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”…. And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.” While He was still speaking, some came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not be afraid; only believe.”
Jairus was a religious man humble enough to come before Jesus to ask Him to lay hands on his dying daughter. In his hopeless situation, he came to Jesus and acknowledged Him as the Son of God and the answer. His faith level was for Jesus to go to his house and lay hands on his daughter to heal her. Jesus was willing and went with him.
The woman with the bleeding problem also had a hopeless situation, but she heard about Jesus and faith rose within her. Her faith level was if she could touch Jesus’ robe, she would be healed. As she did that, she was immediately healed, and Jesus told her that her faith had made her well.
When Jairus witnessed Jesus saying that power had gone out of Him, he probably wondered if there was any more power left. Then even more disappointing, someone told him his daughter had already died. This was his weakest moment and the easiest time to give up. The enemy wanted to use disappointment and fear to make Jairus let go of God’s Word.
Faith and fear cannot co-exist, but God can work with our faith and watch over His Word to perform it in our lives. He doesn’t lie or change His mind. When He has promised you, He will do it!
Jesus immediately told Jairus, “Do not be afraid! Only believe”. Therefore, don’t entertain fear, hopelessness and quit. Press on and hold on to the Word!
Sermon Series: Fight the Good Fight of Faith
