“Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. Some men brought to him a paralyzed man on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the man, ‘Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven… Get up, take your mat and go home…’
“As Jesus went on from there, he saw Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. ‘Follow me,’ he [said], and Matthew got up and followed him.
“While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners ate with him and his disciples. The Pharisees… asked his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’
” Jesus said, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick… I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’
“While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, ‘My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.’ Jesus got up and went with him…
“Just then a woman who’d been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, ‘If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.’
“Jesus turned and saw her. ‘Take heart, daughter, your faith has healed you.’ And the woman was healed at that moment.
“When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, he said, ‘Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.’ They laughed at him. After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up…
“As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, ‘Have mercy on us, Son of David!’
“When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked, ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ they replied. Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘According to your faith let it be done to you’; and their sight was restored…
“While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke.” Matthew 9:1-2,6,9-13,18-25,27-30,32-33
Into boat, on shore, going on, dining in, getting up, turning and seeing, entering in, moving on, back indoors, heading out. Outcasts, the disabled, cheaters, rulers, the ‘unclean’ and helpless, beggars, and demon-possessed. Jesus moved with intention from place to place, person to person, available to all. There was no tidy schedule for this Savior, no social preferring, no safe distances from the infectious or reputation-tarnishers. Jesus took thought and full heart for others, all in a day’s work.
When have I taken time to bring healing, encouragement, help to a needy soul? Is my mindset shaped to plan and do only for my progress or advantage? Do I cram hours to the edges, with no margin for God’s interruptions and opportunities?
How available are we to our families, friends, service to others? How might we follow in Christ’s steps? Where will we practice generous outreach to the unclean and unlovable? What do my habits and agenda reveal about my heart’s willingness to serve God over self? (1 Peter 4:10-11)
Lord, help me daily offer You my time and self, for Your kingdom work and glory.
As the rain and snow 