Believe Jesus and start going or doing!

John 4:43-54

After the two days he left for Galilee. Now, Jesus knew well from experience that a prophet is not respected in the place where he grew up. So when he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, but only because they were impressed with what he had done in Jerusalem during the Passover Feast, not that they really had a clue about who he was or what he was up to. Now he was back in Cana of Galilee, the place where he made the water into wine. Meanwhile in Capernaum, there was a certain official from the king’s court whose son was sick. When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and asked that he come down and heal his son, who was on the brink of death. Jesus put him off: “Unless you people are dazzled by a miracle, you refuse to believe.” But the court official wouldn’t be put off. “Come down! It’s life or death for my son.” Jesus simply replied, “Go home. Your son lives.” The man believed the bare word Jesus spoke and headed home. On his way back, his servants intercepted him and announced, “Your son lives!” He asked them what time he began to get better. They said, “The fever broke yesterday afternoon at one o’clock.” The father knew that that was the very moment Jesus had said, “Your son lives.” That clinched it. Not only he but his entire household believed. This was now the second sign Jesus gave after having come from Judea into Galilee.

Food for thought!

After Sunday, after church, after listening to the word of God, we start our work week. We are like the man in the Gospel reading: we heard the Word of God, now we need to get going. "The man believed the bare word Jesus spoke and headed home." He believed what Jesus had told him, "Go home. Your son lives." Now that Sunday is over, we are called upon to put the word Jesus told us at the church we attended and head to work. Yes, we must do what the man did: move from words to works; from pews to queues; from church to Main Street.

Here was a courtier who had faith. It must have been hard for him to turn away and go home with Jesus' assurance that his little lad would live; it must have been difficult for the courtier. Yet he had faith enough to turn and walk back that twenty mile road with nothing but Jesus' word to comfort his heart. We too, must believe that what Jesus says is true. So often we have a kind of vague, wistful longing that the promises of Jesus should be true. The only way really to enter into them is to believe in them with the clutching intensity of a drowning man. If Jesus says a thing, it is not a case of "It may be true"; it is a case of "It must be true."

This single piece of wisdom is worth taping to your desk or using as the background on your laptop or posting somewhere you can be reminded: Believe Jesus and start going or doing. Keep it in front of you because in the midst of procrastinating, you will surely forget it.

What is the goal you most want to reach at this point in your life? (Consider your health, relationships , finances, career, and spiritual life.) Talk to Jesus about it, like the man in today's gospel. Like the man in today's gospel, believe the words Jesus will speak to you and start going.

Prayer

Lord, Your Word tells me that when I draw near to You, You draw nearer to me. I believe the same is true when it is time to move forward in faith. As I take action, Your forces rally to my aid and strengthen my efforts. But sometimes I seem to operate just the opposite. I wait for inspiration before I move. I know it is fear. It is procrastination. It is perfectionism. And none of those things is Your will for me. So today, God, help me take a step forward. Right now. Not an hour from now. Not tomorrow. When I start moving forward in faith , inspiration comes. Thank You for what is about to happen as I take a step forward in faith! Amen.