John Chapter 4: Verses 49-53 (NIV-UK)
The royal official said, ‘Sir, come down before my child dies.’
‘Go,’ Jesus replied, ‘your son will live.’
The man took Jesus at his word and departed. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. When he enquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, ‘Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.’
Then the father realised that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, ‘Your son will live.’ So he and his whole household believed.
Hebrews Chapter 13: Verse 8 (NIV-UK)
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
The royal official was desperate for Jesus to come to his house and heal his son. He’d heard of the miracles and trusted that if He came, the boy would live. But Jesus didn’t go. He sent the man home with the promise that the boy would be healed. The man took Jesus at His word. No if’s, no but’s, he immediately did what Jesus told him. He travelled at least a day’s journey. I wonder what he was thinking as he travelled? When word came to him, he realised that his son was healed at the time he had set out. I believe that was the outcome of his trust in Jesus’ word. Jesus’ word was reliable, and still is.
We’ve all come across people who say one thing and then don’t carry it through. It’s so disappointing when that happens and if we have been in that situation, we are not as quick to trust them again. The man in this account found out that Jesus could be relied on. Those of us who have been on the Christian walk a while should know that. We have had plenty of experience. Yet sometimes still, if God tells us to do something in faith, we are hesitant. Shame on us. We can take God at His word. Jesus hasn’t changed. What might we be missing out in our hesitation?
Dear Lord,
Thank You that Your word is completely reliable and can be trusted. Help me never to hesitate when You speak, but like the royal official, take You at Your word. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.