Matthew 15.29-39

Reference:  v.30 Great crowds came to him, bringing the lame, the blind, the crippled, the mute and many others, and laid them at his feet; and he healed them. (NIV Bible)

Explore:  Jesus healed people with physical afflictions, however his greater power was to heal people of their sins –their inner afflictions.  The physical healing was an outward showing of what he can do for each of us on the inside.  In that way we all become lame, blind, crippled and mute and we all need the healing power of Jesus.

Application:  We can often categorize people as ‘sinners’, those who don’t believe that Jesus was the Son of God.  We can say trite comments like, ‘love the sinner; hate the sin’.  But doesn’t that stand for every single person?  We are all in need of healing, we all have outer and inner afflictions that require the grace of God.  If we are to understand that we, ourselves, are in total need of Jesus’ redemptive power, then we will view others with grace and mercy as well.  ‘Love the sinner – period.’

Prayer:  Lord, we are so quick to judge.  As soon as we judge we take your place and put ourselves higher than others.  Forgive our arrogance.  May we love all people as you have commanded us to.  Amen.