"Don't Be Afraid; Just Believe"

 DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE

DON’T BE AFRAID; JUST BELIEVE

Luke 8:49-56

49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," he said. "Don't bother the teacher any more." 50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed."  51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child's father and mother. 52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. "Stop wailing," Jesus said. "She is not dead but asleep."  53 They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!"  55 Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

NIV

Just believe, that is the key to the whole Christian life. Just believe. However, there lies the problem. We think for the most part we believers have a struggle with believing. Maybe we want to look at the scriptures with too much of an intellectual approach and forget that Jesus told us to just believe. However, there is one aspect to this just believing and that is with no fear. This is one of the most common phrases in the scripture, “Don’t be afraid” “Do not be afraid” or “Fear not” if we use the KJV version. Fear will cripple our faith, and force us into a state of disbelief, rather than “Just believe”.

Then we also find this command, “Stop wailing”. Of course, Jesus was speaking to the women who were accustomed to wailing in grief over someone who died. However, how much to we wail over our aches and pains, complaining about everything that is wrong with our bodies, and then adding our troubles in this life. Why do we not ask Jesus, especially when he has told us to ask him anything in His name and He will do it. Do we not believe that? Do we hide from asking because we do not think that is true, or that Jesus will tell us, No or wait? Where in the scripture does God say to wait for what we ask for? Where does God say he is not ready to give us what we ask for in the name of Jesus? Certainly, we wait for His return, but that is not waiting to receive what we ask in the name of Jesus. Why are we afraid when Jesus has also said not to be afraid to ask him for our physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Let us voice our hearts' need to the Father, in the name of Jesus, and expect to receive that which we ask for now. Jesus told that woman who just touched the hem of his garment that her faith had made her whole, and healed her, immediately. When He took that little girl by the hand, her spirit returned to her immediately. Just believe, and we will see miracles upon miracles.