ODJ: divine invitation
May 24, 2011
Where is your faith? (v.25).
READ: Luke 8:22-56
The best party invitation we ever received featured a picture of a little boy wearing funny yellow sunglasses. His smile extended from ear to ear. It was a photo of my son’s playmate, and the text read: “Please join us for Daniel’s first birthday.” Every time I glanced at that invitation, I felt a twinge of joy. Recently, I had the same heartwarming response when I read a series of divine invitations from Jesus, who repeatedly invited people to have faith in Him.
The first call to trust Him came after a terrible storm at sea. You might recall how Jesus quieted the chaos. But then Jesus asked the disciples, “Where is your faith?” (Luke 8:25). Embedded in His question was this invitation: Have faith in Me; I am more powerful than the storm raging around you.
A few verses later, a woman who had struggled with an incurable disease for more than a decade dared to brush her fingers across a few fibers of Jesus’ robe. Instantly, her illness disappeared. Jesus’ response? “Daughter, your faith has made you well” (v.48). What an encouraging invitation to the onlookers: Have faith in Me; I can change long-term hopeless situations.
On the heels of this amazing healing, a man named Jairus learned that his daughter had just died. He had wanted Jesus to cure her, but time had run out. When Jesus heard what had happened, He told Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith and she will be healed” (v.50). In essence: Have faith in Me; I have power over life and death.
Centuries later, Jesus’ divine invitation is extended to you and me. Are you living in chaos? Are you hopeless? Are you walking the line between life and death? Affirm your faith in His ability to help you by simply telling Him, “I trust You.” —Jennifer Benson Schuldt
What are some enemies of faith? Why is it sometimes difficult to trust in Jesus when it comes to “little things,” even though we’ve trusted Him to take care of our souls for eternity?
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