[Devotional] IN HIS PRESENCE: Press through the crowd

Read: LUKE 8:43-47

Meditation verse:

“He who observes the wind will not sow. And he who regards the clouds will not reap” (Ecclesiastes 11:4).

The crowd was thick as the multitude thronged Jesus. Yet the woman with the issue of blood pressed through. Coming from behind, she dragged her weak frame forward until she reached Jesus and touched the hem of His garment. Instantly her issue of blood dried up (Mark 5:25-34). Zacchaeus sought to see.

Jesus, but could not see through the crowd, for he was of short stature. So, he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree. And when Jesus got to the place, He looked up and said “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house” (Luke 19: 1-5). The four friends of the paralytic man could not get in through the door to reach Jesus because of the crowd, so they uncovered the roof where He was and let down the bed on which he laid, and he received his healing (Mark 2:1-12).

Blind Bartimaeus wanted to catch Jesus’ attention, amid the noise of the great multitude that followed Him, so he screamed at the top of his voice “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me”. The crowd tried to shut him up, but he cried out even more. Jesus stood still and commanded him to be called. He received his sight immediately and followed Jesus on the road (Mark 10:46-52).

They all encountered limitations that could have discouraged them from reaching their goal. Rather than wait for perfect conditions they found creative ways around the situation. Instead of giving up when the usual way was impossible, they found an unusual way. The woman with the issue of blood figured she could not reach Jesus, so she decided to make do with the hem of His garment. Zacchaeus figured out Jesus’ route ahead and climbed a tree on the way. The four friends broke the roof. Blind Bartimaeus screamed out louder.

What do you do when you encounter your own difficulties? What do you do when the usual way is fraught with limitations? Do you give up or wait for perfect conditions that do not exist? Do not retreat in the face of difficulties. Keep searching until you find a different way to reach your goal. You just might end up with a bigger miracle. In all four scenarios, the characters got more than they envisaged.

All Zacchaues wanted was just to catch a glimpse of the One who had become the talk of the town. He ended up hosting Jesus in his home and became a changed person. The woman with the issue of blood wanted to queitly sneak behind Jesus and receive her miracle, but she became the centre of attraction. The paralytic did not only receive his healing, he received forgiveness for his sins. Blind Bartimaeus not only had his sights restored, he became a follower of Jesus.

A closed door need not signal the end of your miracle. A closed door is an opportunity to find another door. It is an opportunity to uncover another route which may lead to a better place. Decide today to press through the crowd and its noise. Step out and press through your limitation. You just might get much more that you imagined or bargained for. God is a God of “much more”.

IN HIS PRESENCE is written by Pst (Mrs) Oke Chinye

Founder: The Rock Teaching Ministry (TRTM)

For prayers, counselling or to support our vision of blessing more lives with this devotional, email: rockteachingministry@gmail.com

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