Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, ‘Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.’ ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.’

Then His mother and His brothers arrived, and standing outside they sent word to Him and called Him. A crowd was sitting around Him, and they said to Him, ‘Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are outside looking for You.’ Answering them, He said, ‘Who are My mother and My brothers?’ Looking about at those who were sitting around Him, He said, ‘Behold My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother.

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Peter is afraid and begins to sink, but Jesus reaches out His hand and catches him..

WHILE JESUS WAS alone praying on the mountain-side, the disciples were in their ship rowing toward Capernaum.  And the multitude were returning homeward as they had come, walking along the northern shore of the sea.    After nightfall a strong wind began to blow across the Sea, driving against the little ship.  Row as hard as they might, the disciples could not make much progress against the wind.  Higher and higher the waves dashed and rolled, and slower the vessel plowed through them.

How tired the disciples were growing!  Perhaps they were thinking about the time when a tempest swept over the Sea and Jesus had been with them, sleeping in the ship.  Perhaps they were wishing for his presence now, to still this stormy wind that made their progress so wearisome and so slow.

Far away on the mountain Jesus had been praying for several hours.  But he had not forgotten his disciples.  Perhaps he had been praying for them as well as for himself.  He knew how much they needed him when the strong wind began to blow against their little ship, and he started to go to them.

Out across the water he walked as easily as if it had been land, and nearer and nearer he came to the tossing ship and its weary sailors.  By and by he came very near, so near that they could see him through the darkness, walking past them on the rough waves.

Now the disciples were frightened; for every one had seen Jesus and they believed they had seen a spirit.  They did not think he could really walk on water, for no person had ever done that.

They remembered how God had parted the waters on the Red Sea for the Israelites to cross over on dry land, and how he had made a dry path across the Jordan River three times for his servant to walk upon.  But never had they heard of any one walking on top of the water.  This must be a spirit.  And they cried out for fear of what they had seen.

Jesus stopped when he heard their cry, and turned to speak to them.  He said, “Do not be afraid, for it is I.”  How familiar that voice sounded!  Still the disciples could scarcely believe it was Jesus who spoke.

Finally Simon Peter cried out, “Lord, if it is  you, bid me come to you walking on the water.”

And Jesus answered “Come?”

With a bound Simon Peter leaped over the side of the ship and started to go to Jesus.  The other disciples looked on in amazement, wondering more than ever at the great power of Jesus on both sea and land.  Presently, however, they saw their fellow disciple beginning to sink in the rough waves, and they heard his voice calling frantically to Jesus to help.  For Simon Peter had begun to look about at the stormy wind and waves, and just as soon as he took his eyes off Jesus he began to sink.

Then Jesus reached forth his hand and caught him, saying, “O man of little faith, why did you doubt?”

When the two came to the ship, the other disciples received them joyfully, and at once the wind ceased.  Again the disciples marveled at the wonderful power of their master, who could perform miracles on the sea as well as on the land.  And they came to him, worshiping him and saying, “Surely you are the Son of God.”

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Dear Father, thank you for the creative power in my words. Thank you for the opportunity to work with you to set my life on the course of victory. I choose to use my words to bless others and receive Your blessing in my own life in return.

In Jesus’ Name
Amen

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“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit” -(Proverbs 18:21, NIV)

Our words have creative power. Whenever we speak something out, either good or bad, we are giving life to what we are saying. Too many people go around saying negative things about themselves, their family, and their future. Things like, “I’ll never be successful. This sickness is going to get the best of me. Business is so slow I don’t think I’m going to make it. Flu season is coming. I’ll probably get it.” They don’t realize they are prophesying their future. The Scripture says, “We will eat the fruit of our words.” That means we’re going to get exactly what we’ve been saying.

Here is the key: you’ve got to send your words out in the direction you want your life to go. You cannot talk defeat and expect to have victory. You can’t talk lack and expect to have abundance. You will produce what you’ve been saying. With your words you can either bless or curse your future. Make sure your words are what God says about you so you can move forward in the life of blessing He has in store for you!

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If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?

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你曉諭以色列全會眾說、你們要聖潔、因為我耶和華你們的神是聖潔的。

‎"Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.

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Haman Is Hanged
1 So the king and Haman went in to eat with Queen Esther.
2 As they were drinking wine on the second day, the king asked Esther again, “What are you asking for? I will give it to you. What is it you want? I will give you as much as half of my kingdom.”

3 Then Queen Esther answered, “My king, if you are pleased with me, and if it pleases you, let me live. This is what I ask. And let my people live, too. This is what I want.
4 My people and I have been sold to be destroyed, to be killed and completely wiped out. If we had been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because that would not be enough of a problem to bother the king.”

5 Then King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he? Who has done such a thing?”

6 Esther said, “Our enemy and foe is this wicked Haman!”

Then Haman was filled with terror before the king and queen.
7 The king was very angry, so he got up, left his wine, and went out into the palace garden. But Haman stayed inside to beg Queen Esther to save his life. He could see that the king had already decided to kill him.

8 When the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, he saw Haman falling on the couch where Esther was lying. The king said, “Will he even attack the queen while I am in the house?”

As soon as the king said that, servants came in and covered Haman’s face.
9 Harbona, one of the eunuchs there serving the king, said, “Look, a seventy-five foot platform stands near Haman’s house. This is the one Haman had prepared for Mordecai, who gave the warning that saved the king.”

The king said, “Hang Haman on it!”10 So they hanged Haman on the platform he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king was not so angry anymore.

Esther accuses Haman. (1-6) Haman hanged on his own gallows. (7-10)

Commentary on Esther 7:1-6
If the love of life causes earnest pleadings with those that can only kill the body, how fervent should our prayers be to Him, who is able to destroy both body and soul in hell! How should we pray for the salvation of our relatives, friends, and all around us! When we petition great men, we must be cautious not to give them offence; even just complaints must often be kept back. But when we approach the King of kings with reverence, we cannot ask or expect too much. Though nothing but wrath be our due, God is able and willing to do exceeding abundantly, even beyond all we can ask or think.

Commentary on Esther 7:7-10
The king was angry: those that do things with self-will, reflect upon them afterward with self-reproach. When angry, we should pause before we come to any resolution, and thus rule our own spirits, and show that we are governed by reason. Those that are most haughty and insolent when in power and prosperity, commonly, like Haman, are the most abject and poor-spirited when brought down. The day is coming when those that hate and persecute God’s chosen ones, would gladly be beholden to them. The king returns yet more angry against Haman. Those about him were ready to put his wrath into execution. How little can proud men be sure of the interest they think they have! The enemies of God’s church have often been thus taken in their own craftiness. The Lord is known by such judgments. Then was the king’s wrath pacified, and not till then. And who pities Haman hanged on his own gallows? who does not rather rejoice in the Divine righteousness displayed in the destruction his own art brought upon him? Let the workers of iniquity tremble, turn to the Lord, and seek pardon through the blood of Jesus.

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[Ābĭē'zûr] — father of help orin help.

1. The son of Hammoleketh, who was the sister of Machir and daughter of Manasseh. Gideon belonged to this family
Josh. 17:2: – ² So this allotment was for the rest of the people of Manasseh—the clans of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher and Shemida. These are the other male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans.

Judg. 6:11: – ¹¹ The angel of the LORD came and sat down under the oak in Ophrah that belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites.

1 Chron. 7:18: – ¹⁸ His sister Hammoleketh gave birth to Ishhod, Abiezer and Mahlah.
Perhaps the same as Jeezer (Num. 26:30: - ³⁰ These were the descendants of Gilead:  through Iezer, the Iezerite clan; through Helek, the Helekite clan).

2. An Anethothite, one of David’s thirty-seven chief heroes, who had command of the army during the ninth month
2 Sam. 23:27: – ²⁷ Abiezer from Anathoth, Sibbekai the Hushathite.

1 Chron. 11:28: – ²⁸ Ira son of Ikkesh from Tekoa, Abiezer from Anathoth.

1 Chron. 27:12: – ¹² The ninth, for the ninth month, was Abiezer the Anathothite, a Benjamite. There were 24,000 men in his division.
Also the name of a district (Judg. 6:34: -³⁴ Then the Spirit of the LORD came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him).

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Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. He appointed twelve that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach and to have authority to drive out demons. These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means ‘sons of thunder’), Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.

And He went up on the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him. And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, and to have authority to cast out the demons. And He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom He gave the name Peter), and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, ‘Sons of Thunder’); and Andrew, and Philip, a nd Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot; and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him.

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Jesus Feeds The Five Thousand Matt. 14:13-23; Mark 6:31-46; Luke 9:7-17; John 6:1-15

Jesus tells His disciples to pass the food among the hungry people. From a boy’s small lunch, there was miraculously enough for all, with some left over.   A BOY’S LUNCH-BASKETis a very small thing compared with a great miracle. But in this story we shall see how a great miracle grew out of a boy’s lunch-basket. It all came about in this manner:    The disciples whom Jesus sent to preach in the towns and cities of Galilee had returned joyfully, telling their Master about their success in healing the sick and in casting out the evil spirits just as they had seen him do. And now the fame of Jesus was increasing every day, and many more people from distant parts of the country were flocking to hear him. So urgent were the people who came to hear Jesus and to have their loved ones healed, that they pressed constantly upon him, and allowed no time for him to rest or even eat. Then Jesus called his twelve disciples aside from the multitude and said, “Come with me to a quiet place, for we must rest a while.” Taking a ship they sailed away from the multitude to the other side of the Sea, and went into a desert place near a mountain. But they did not find much time to rest even in this lonely spot, for soon they saw a great throng of people coming toward them. The multitude had followed from the other side of the Sea. Perhaps the disciples were disappointed because the people had found them again, but Jesus looked pityingly upon the great throng, and said of them, “They are like sheep that had no shepherd. They wander about here and there hunting for their own pasture-grounds.” In this great throng were five thousand men, who had come from different parts of Galilee. Some of them had brought their wives and children along, and other women had come, too. When they had started they did not know they would have to go so very far to find Jesus, and many of them had brought nothing to eat. One boy, however, had not forgotten his lunch-basket, and in his basket he carried five little loaves of barley bread and two small fishes. When the multitude came near, Jesus received them kindly and sat down to teach them again. He healed the sick ones whom they had brought to him, and taught them many things about the kingdom of heaven. After a while the day wore on and evening came. Still the people lingered near, seeming to forget they could find no food or shelter in the desert place. The disciples grew impatient with them and came to ask Jesus to send them away. ”They have brought no food,” said the disciples, “and we can not supply food for them in this wilderness; therefore send them away that they may buy food in the towns and villages as they journey home.” But Jesus answered, “We must feed them before sending them away.” Then, turning to Philip he asked, “Where shall we find bread, that all these people may eat?” Philip looked at the great multitude and shook his head. “If we should buy two hundred pennyworth of bread,” he answered, “there would not be enough for each one to have a small piece.” While Jesus and the disciples were discussing what to do, the boy who had not forgotten to carry his lunch came near and heard their conversation. Then he showed his basket of food to one of the disciples, and he offered to give the food to Jesus. The disciples, who was Andrew, came and told Jesus what the boy had said. ”How many loaves are there in the basket?” asked Jesus. Andrew said, “Only five and two small fishes. But what will that be among so many people?” Jesus replied, “Bring them to me.” Then he told his disciples to bid the people sit down in groups, in some fifty and in others a hundred, and wait for their evening meal. While they waited, he took the little loaves and the fishes and blessed them and broke them into small pieces. He filled a basket for each of the twelve disciples and sent them to pass the food among the hungry people. Then the disciples returned and again he filled their empty baskets. When all the people had eaten, he sent the disciples to gather up the scraps that had been left over, and they found twelve baskets full of scraps. And every one in the great multitude had eaten enough to satisfy his hunger. The boy who had brought the lunch-basket to Jesus had all that he could eat, and he shared his little lunch with every one in the great throng because he had let Jesus bless his offering. This unusual miracle caused much excitement among the people. They wanted Jesus to become their king instead of letting the Roman government rule them any longer. They believed that he could set them free from the rule of the Romans, whom they hated. They thought it would be wonderful to have a king rule them who could feed them by working miracles. But Jesus would not allow the people to take him for their king. Although he was a King, yet he had not come to earth to rule an earthly kingdom. He commanded his disciples to enter their ship at once and return to the other side of the Sea. And when they left him, then he dismissed the multitude and went alone upon the mountain near by to pray.

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Dear Father, I trust my life to you. Thank you for your guidance in the past. I believe that you will continue to faithfully guide and lead me.

In Jesus’ name
Amen

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Psalm 113:1-9

1 Praise the LORD.
Praise, O servants of the LORD,
praise the name of the LORD.

2 Let the name of the LORD be praised,
both now and forevermore.

3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets,
the name of the LORD is to be praised.

4 The LORD is exalted over all the nations,
his glory above the heavens.

5 Who is like the LORD our God,
the One who sits enthroned on high,

6 who stoops down to look
on the heavens and the earth?

7 He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;

8 he seats them with princes,
with the princes of their people.

9 He settles the barren woman in her home
as a happy mother of children.
Praise the LORD.

“Blessed be the name of the Lord from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its going down the Lord’s name is to be praised” (vv. 2,3).

These verses tell us that we have some responsibilities. First, we are to praise God. It’s tragic when we forget to praise the Lord. Someone has said that he feels sorry for atheists and agnostics because when they want to be thankful, they have no one to talk to. How can a person really enjoy a beautiful sunrise or a sunset, a beautiful spring day or even a beautiful winter day, if he can’t thank the One who creates these things? God deserves our praise, for He does so much for us.

The psalmist also tells us to praise God all day long, “from the rising of the sun to its going down” (v. 3). Praise Him when you have to get up in the morning. Praise Him when you’re tired at the end of the day. Praise Him during the day for the good things that happen and for the difficult things. Give Him thanks for seeing you through every situation.

We also should praise Him all over the world–as suggested by the psalmist’s reference to the daily journey of the sun from the east to the west. What are we doing about those who do not know the Lord, the many who have never heard about Jesus Christ and His salvation? Let’s begin by witnessing right where we are. Let’s pray and give. Missionaries need our support. Perhaps God wants you to go and carry the Gospel message overseas.

God has attached responsibility to your privilege of praising Him. You never run out of reasons to praise the Lord. Your praise to Him should encompass the whole day and the whole world. Is praise part of your daily walk with the Lord?

When we were growing up our parents taught us, by both word and example, to pay attention to little things. If you do a thing at all, do it thoroughly: make the sheets really smooth on the bed, sweep all the comers and move all the chairs when you sweep the kitchen, roll the toothpaste tube neatly and put the cap back on, clean the hair out of your brush each time you use it, hang your towel straight on the rod, fold your napkin and put it into the silver ring before you leave the table, never wet your finger when you turn pages. They kept promises made to us as faithfully as they kept those made to adults. They taught us to do the same.

You didn’t accept an invitation to a party and then not turn up, or agree to help with the Vacation Bible School and back out because a more interesting activity presented itself. The only financial debt my parents ever incurred was a mortgage on a house, which my father explained was in a special class because it was real estate which would always have value.

When I went to boarding school the same principles I had been taught at home were emphasized. There was a hallway with small oriental rugs which we called “Character Hall” because the headmistress, Mrs. DuBose, could look down that hall from the armchair where she sat in the lobby and spot any student who kicked up the comer of a rug and did not replace it. She would call out to correct him, “It’s those tiny little things in your life which will crack you up when you get out of this school!” In the little things our character was revealed. Our response would make or break us. “Don’t go around with a Bible under your arm if you didn’t sweep under the bed,” she said, for she would have no pious talk coming out of a messy room.

“Great thoughts go best with common duties. Whatever therefore may be your office regard it as a fragment in an immeasurable ministry of love” (Bishop Brooke Foss Westcott, b. 1825).

It is not easy to find children or adults who are dependable, careful, thorough, and faithful. So many lives seem honeycombed with small failures, neglectful of the little things that make the difference between order and chaos. Perhaps it is because they are so seldom taught that visible things are signs of an invisible reality; that common duties may be “an immeasurable ministry of love.” The spiritual training of souls must be inseparable from practical disciplines, as Jesus so plainly taught; “The man who can be trusted in little things can be trusted in great; the man who is dishonest in little things will be dishonest in great. If then you cannot be trusted with money, that tainted thing, who will trust you with genuine riches! And if you cannot be trusted with what is not yours, who will give you what is your very own?” (Luke 16:10-12, JB). (The footnote to “your very own” says, “Jesus is speaking of the most intimate Possessions a man can have; these are spiritual.”)

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How pleasant it is for a father to sit at his child's board. It is like an aged man reclining under the shadow of an oak which he has planted.

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耶和華在西乃山和摩西說完了話、就把兩塊法版交給他、是　神用指頭寫的石版。

When the LORD finished speaking to Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the Testimony, the tablets of stone inscribed by the finger of God.

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Mordecai Is Honored
1 That same night the king could not sleep. So he gave an order for the daily court record to be brought in and read to him.
2 It was found recorded that Mordecai had warned the king about Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway and who had planned to kill the king.

3 The king asked, “What honor and reward have been given to Mordecai for this?”

The king’s personal servants answered, “Nothing has been done for Mordecai.”

4 The king said, “Who is in the courtyard?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the king’s palace. He had come to ask the king about hanging Mordecai on the platform he had prepared.

5 The king’s personal servants said, “Haman is standing in the courtyard.”

The king said, “Bring him in.”

6 So Haman came in. And the king asked him, “What should be done for a man whom the king wants very much to honor?”

And Haman thought to himself, “Whom would the king want to honor more than me?”
7 So he answered the king, “This is what you could do for the man you want very much to honor.
8 Have the servants bring a royal robe that the king himself has worn. And also bring a horse with a royal crown on its head, a horse that the king himself has ridden.
9 Let the robe and the horse be given to one of the king’s most important men. Let the servants put the robe on the man the king wants to honor, and let them lead him on the horse through the city streets. As they are leading him, let them announce: ‘This is what is done for the man whom the king wants to honor!’ “

10 The king commanded Haman, “Go quickly. Take the robe and the horse just as you have said, and do all this for Mordecai the Jew who sits at the king’s gate. Do not leave out anything you have suggested.”

11 So Haman took the robe and the horse, and he put the robe on Mordecai. Then he led him on horseback through the city streets, announcing before Mordecai: “This is what is done for the man whom the king wants to honor!”

12 Then Mordecai returned to the king’s gate, but Haman hurried home with his head covered, because he was embarrassed and ashamed.
13 He told his wife, Zeresh, and all his friends everything that had happened to him.

Haman’s wife and the men who gave him advice said, “You are starting to lose power to Mordecai. Since he is a Jew, you cannot win against him. You will surely be ruined.”
14 While they were still talking, the king’s eunuchs came to Haman’s house and made him hurry to the banquet Esther had prepared.

Providence recommends Mordecai to the king’s favour. (1-3) Haman’s counsel honours Mordecai. (4-11) Haman’s friends tell him of his danger. (12-14)

Commentary on Esther 6:1-3
The providence of God rules over the smallest concerns of men. Not a sparrow falls to the ground without him. Trace the steps which Providence took towards the advancement of Mordecai. The king could not sleep when Providence had a design to serve, in keeping him awake. We read of no illness that broke his sleep, but God, whose gift sleep is, withheld it from him. He who commanded a hundred and twenty-seven provinces, could not command one hour’s sleep.

Commentary on Esther 6:4-11
See how men’s pride deceives them. The deceitfulness of our own hearts appears in nothing more than in the conceit we have of ourselves and our own performances: against which we should constantly watch and pray. Haman thought the king loved and valued no one but himself, but he was deceived. We should suspect that the esteem which others profess for us, is not so great as it seems to be, that we may not think too well of ourselves, nor trust too much in others. How Haman is struck, when the king bids him do honour to Mordecai the Jew, the very man whom he hated above all men, whose ruin he was now designing!

Commentary on Esther 6:12-14
Mordecai was not puffed up with his honours, he returned to his place and the duty of it. Honour is well bestowed on those that do not think themselves above their business. But Haman could not bear it. What harm had it done him? But that will break a proud man’s heart, which will not break a humble man’s sleep. His doom was, out of this event, read to him by his wife and his friends. They plainly confessed that the Jews, though scattered through the nations, were special objects of Divine care. Miserable comforters are they all; they did not advise Haman to repent, but foretold his fate as unavoidable. The wisdom of God is seen, in timing the means of his church’s deliverance, so as to manifest his own glory.

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Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. For the LORD is the great God, the great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if only you would hear his voice,

Come, let’s shout praises to God, raise the roof for the Rock who saved us! Let’s march into his presence singing praises, lifting the rafters with our hymns! – And why? Because God is the best, High King over all the gods. In one hand he holds deep caves and caverns, in the other hand grasps the high mountains. He made Ocean–he owns it! His hands sculpted Earth! – So come, let us worship: bow before him, on your knees before God, who made us! Oh yes, he’s our God, and we’re the people he pastures, the flock he feeds. – Drop everything and listen, listen as he speaks: ‘Don’t turn a deaf ear as in the Bitter Uprising, As on the day of the Wilderness Test, when your ancestors turned and put me to the test. For forty years they watched me at work among them, as over and over they tried my patience. And I was provoked–oh, was I provoked! ‘Can’t they keep their minds on God for five minutes? Do they simply refuse to walk down my road?’ Exasperated, I exploded, ‘They’ll never get where they’re headed, never be able to sit down and rest.”

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Jesus Raises Jairus’ Daughter From The Dead Matt. 9:18 to 10:42; Mark 5:22-43; Luke 8:41 to 9:6

Jesus takes the child’s hand in his own and said, “Little girl, rise up!”   WHEN JESUS ANDhis disciples returned from the country of the Gadarenes they saw a crowd standing on the shore eager to welcome them back to Capernaum. And again Jesus taught them and healed the sick folk they brought to him.    Presently a man came running to Jesus, looking very much distressed. He fell down at Jesus’ feet and cried, “My little daughter is lying at home ready to die; but if you will come with me and touch her, I know she shall be made well.” This man was a ruler of the synagog in Capernaum, and his name was Jairus. No doubt Jesus knew this man, for often he had taught in the synagog. Now he started at once to go with Jairus to heal his daughter. The disciples, too, went with him. And the crowd followed, eager to see another miracle. As they went, the people pressed close to Jesus; for every one was eager to walk as near to him as possible. In this throng was one poor woman who had been ill for twelve years. She had spent all her money in taking treatments from doctors, yet they did not cure her. Now she had no more money and still she was greatly afflicted. But she had heard of Jesus’ power to heal, and this glad news brought courage to her sad heart. She decided to go to him and be made well. How hard it was to reach him! But this woman pressed her way through the crowd till she came very near. She thought in her heart, “I will not ask him to make me well; I will only touch the hem of his garment and I know I shall be healed.” So she edged her way closer, until she could reach out her hand and touch Jesus’ clothes. Immediately she felt the healing power go through her body, and she stepped backward into the crowd. But Jesus knew what the woman had done. He knew about her earnest desire to be made well, and he knew about her thoughts. So he turned around and asked, “Who touched me?” The disciples were amazed at this question. “Why do you ask who touched you, when the people are pressing against you from every side?” they inquired. But Jesus answered, “Some one has touched me, for I felt healing virtue go from my body. Then the woman knew that her act was known by Jesus, and she came trembling and fell down before him, telling her sad story. Jesus spoke comforting words to her, and said, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” Jairus stood by waiting impatiently for Jesus to start again. He was fearful that his little daughter might die before they could reach her bedside. And surely enough, a servant from his house came to meet them with the sad news that the little girl was dead. ”Do not trouble the Master any longer, for it is too late,” he said. Jesus heard the message, and he saw the deep grief of Jairus. He said to the father, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she shall yet be made well.” So they journeyed on. At the ruler’s home many friends and neighbors had gathered to weep and to comfort the sorrowing mother. Jesus told them to cease their weeping, for the child was not dead, but sleeping. They did not understand that Jesus meant to say, “Death is only a sleep from which we shall all waken again.” And they scoffed at his words; for they knew the little girl had no life remaining in her body. Then Jesus sent every one out of the room except the father and mother of the little girl and three of his disciples. Simon Peter, and James, and John were the three whom he permitted to remain with him. When the others had gone out, he took the child’s hand in his own and said, “Little girl, rise up!” At his command she opened her eyes and rose up to walk about the room. Jesus told her parents to give her some food to eat, and he asked them to tell no one what he had done; for already the people were thronging him, and news of this miracle would draw greater crowds than ever. When they left the home of Jairus, two blind men followed Jesus, crying out, “O son of David, have mercy on us!” They followed him into the house where he was staying, and when they came to him there he asked, “Do you believe that I am able to open your blind eyes?” They answered quickly, “Yes, Lord.” So he touched their eyes and said, “Let it be done to you just as you believe.” And their eyes were opened so that they could see. Jesus asked these men to tell no one what he had done; but they went everywhere telling how Jesus had opened their blinded eyes. Afterwards was brought to Jesus a dumb man who had an evil spirit dwelling in him. And Jesus cast out the spirit, and caused the man to be able to speak. Many onlookers were amazed at these mighty miracles of Jesus, and they said, “It was never so seen in Israel.” But the fault-finding Pharisees said, “He does not cast out evil spirits by the power of God, but by the power of Satan.” They were jealous of the fame that had come to Jesus, and they spoke evil of him. So great were the crowds who pressed to hear Jesus that he saw he could not teach them all. Then he sent his twelve disciples to preach in other cities, and he gave them power to heal the sick and to cast out evil spirits, and even to raise the dead. The work was too great for him to do alone, and he had chosen these men to help him. So they went to other towns and villages, preaching the gospel and healing the sick, just as Jesus had commanded them to do.

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Dear Father, today I set my focus on you. I choose to forget the past by forgiving others so that I can look straight ahead to your promises. I ask that you direct my heart on the path of life that you have for me.

In Jesus’ Name
Amen

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Psalm 112:1-10

1 Praise the LORD.
Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
who finds great delight in his commands.

2 His children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.

3 Wealth and riches are in his house,
and his righteousness endures forever.

4 Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
for the gracious and compassionate and righteous man.

5 Good will come to him who is generous and lends freely,
who conducts his affairs with justice.

6 Surely he will never be shaken;
a righteous man will be remembered forever.

7 He will have no fear of bad news;
his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.

8 His heart is secure, he will have no fear;
in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.

9 He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor,
his righteousness endures forever;
his horn will be lifted high in honor.

10 The wicked man will see and be vexed,
he will gnash his teeth and waste away;
the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.

Psychiatrists call the fear of certain things phobias. There are people who fear heights (acrophobia) and people who fear closed-in places (claustrophobia). There are people afraid of water, dogs and even other people. But there is one fear that drives out all other fears, and we find it in Psalm 112. “Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments” (v. 1).

All kinds of fears are taken care of if we fear the Lord. One is family fears. “His descendants will be mighty on earth; the generation of the upright will be blessed” (v. 2). Commit your children to Him and you won’t have to worry about their lives.

Fear of the Lord also drives out financial fears. “Wealth and riches will be in his house” (v. 3). This doesn’t mean we will all be millionaires. It means we’ll always have what we need. If we fear the Lord, we can let go of our financial fears.

Some fear the dark. “Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness” (v. 4). Fear God and you’ll always have light when you need it. You will have His guidance and direction.

Some fear the future and change. “Surely he will never be shaken; the righteous will be in everlasting remembrance” (v. 6). God says, “Don’t be afraid of the changes that are going on around you or in you. I am the God of the universe. Fear Me, and I’ll take care of the changes.”

Finally, some people have a fear of bad news. But verse 7 reads, “He will not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.” No news is bad if you’re walking in the will of God.

When you fear the Lord, every other fear is conquered. Walk today in the fear of the Lord, trusting Him with your future. He will give you peace.

One day recently something lit a fuse of anger in someone who then burned me with hot words. I felt sure I didn’t deserve this response, but when I ran to God about it, He reminded me of part of a prayer I’d been using lately: “Teach me to treat all that comes to me with peace of soul and with firm conviction that Your will governs all.”

Where could that kind of peace come from? Only from God, who gives “not as the world gives.”

His will that I should be burned? Here we must tread softly. His will governs all. In a wrong-filled world we suffer (and cause) many a wrong. God is there to heal and comfort and forgive. He who brought blessing to many out of the sin of the jealous brothers against Joseph means this hurt for my ultimate blessing and, I think, for an increase of love between me and the one who hurt me. Love is very patient, very kind. Love never seeks its own. Love looks to God for his grace to help.

“It was not you who sent me here but God,” Joseph said to his brothers. “You meant to do me harm; but God meant to bring good out of it” (Genesis 45:8, 50:20, NEB).

There is a philosophy of secular education which holds that the student ought to be allowed to assemble his own curriculum according to his preferences. Few students have a strong basis for making these choices, not knowing how little they know. Ideas of what they need to learn are not only greatly limited but greatly distorted. What they need is help from those who know more than they do.

Mercifully, God does not leave us to choose our own curriculum. His wisdom is perfect, His knowledge embraces not only all worlds but the individual hearts and minds of each of His loved children. With intimate understanding of our deepest needs and individual capacities, He chooses our curriculum. We need only ask, “Give us this day our daily bread, our daily lessons, our homework.” An angry retort from someone may be just the occasion we need in which to learn not only longsuffering and forgiveness, but meekness and gentleness; fruits not born in us but borne only by the Spirit. As Amy Carmichael wrote, “A cup brimful of sweetness cannot spill even one drop of bitter water, no matter how suddenly jarred” (From her book IF published by Christian Literature Crusade).

God’s curriculum for all who sincerely want to know Him and do His will always include lessons we wish we could skip. But the more we apply ourselves, the more honestly we can say what the psalmist said: “I, thy servant, will study thy statutes. / Thy instruction is my continual delight; / I turn to it for counsel. / I will run the course set out in thy commandments, / for they gladden my heart” (Psalm 119:23, 24, 32, NEB).

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All, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love.

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