Desperate Faith!

Today's scripture for reflection comes from the Gospel of John where we see a father of high social and community status in a desperate situation, his son was gravely ill. Many parents have found themselves in similar situations, my father set at numerous hospital bedsides praying for me as I battled with Sickle Cell Anemia. I recall his prayers and cries to God as I experienced crisis after painful crisis. The fact of the matter is you don't have to be a parent to find yourself is desperate situations like these. Each and every day children, teens, young adults, and seniors experience life's issues. Issues of unplanned pregnancy, suicidal thoughts, dementia, abuse, abandonment, neglect and many more desperate situations. Truly most of us could see ourselves in the officials shoes seeking out Jesus. Lets look:

John 4:46-53 (NRSV)

Then he came again to Cana in Galilee where he had changed the water into wine. Now there was a royal official whose son lay ill in Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death. Then Jesus said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe." The official said to him, "Sir, come down before my little boy dies." Jesus said to him, "Go; your son will live." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way. As he was going down, his slaves met him and told him that his child was alive. So he asked them the hour when he began to recover, and they said to him, "Yesterday at one in the afternoon the fever left him." The father realized that this was the hour when Jesus had said to him, "Your son will live." So he himself believed, along with his whole household.

The Official was indeed in a desperate situation as he was worried about his son and KNEW, that Jesus could do something about it. Even though the father was not a follower of Christ he had desperate faith! This father who had power & influence in the world could not help his son, but was desperate enough to believe in Jesus. We see his display of faith as he leaves trusting in Jesus words heading home. The father sought Jesus out to bring him back to see his son, upon Jesus refusal the father did not give up. The father needed a miracle so badly that he would not take no for an answer. Jesus noticed this desperate faith and provided the miracle that was needed.

Friends we can learn from the Officials display of faith. We need to seek out Christ, we should run to Jesus desperately looking for completion, giving thanks, asking for miracles and blessings. Desperate faith is will go to any lengths to hear from God, it's intense, and personal. We must be intense about our relationship with God, we need to be open and honest with God, we must not let anything distract of hinder us from our relationship with God. We must seek God desperately having the faith that God will work in our lives.

Peace be with you this weekend in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!

Until Monday, Love
P.J.