Your identity in Christ
Luke 8:49-50
While Jesus was still speaking [to the now-healed woman], someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.” Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”
In Christ, we are sons and daughters of God, enabled to live in perfect peace despite a troubling world.
Pondering Point
The most readily noticed identity experience in Luke 8:40-56 is the woman described in yesterday’s Immersion. She is identified as a daughter of God and released with peace from Jesus. Here, in today’s devotion, others experience their own version of peace and restoration through the Messianic work of Jesus: the Micro-Group of Jairus, His wife, and their daughter – even the MG of disciples Peter, James and John.
Part of the fruit of Jesus’ ministry is not just healing itself as a physical component, but He brings about shalom – peace. This includes a physical side in these instances, but peace can reach way beyond physical relief – for them and us. I hope that you can appreciate these Jesus-followers’ take on Shalom:
Now the word shalom has a wide range of meaning. The Aramaic word is shalama and is more closely related to the Arabic word salam which means peace but also means to surrender. Ah, there is the key to perfect peace, “I place everything in the hands of God.” Shalom also means rest (I could use that), healing, safety, and security, hey whatever goodies you name you will most likely find it in the word shalom. But we must keep in mind that Jesus is this perfect peace. The way we gain access to this perfect peace is by having our minds stayed on him. [Chaim Bentorah Ministries]
Prayer
Heavenly Father, I surrender everything to You – even Your timing. To say it like Jesus: "into Your hands I commit my spirit" (Luke 23:46).
In His name I pray. Amen.