A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To...

Luke 8:40-56 – A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to…

G. Campbell Morgan, a preacher from the last century said “To me the second coming is the perpetual light in the path which makes the present bearable. I never lay my head on my pillow without thinking that: maybe before the morning breaks the final morning may have dawned. I never begin my work without thinking perhaps he may interrupt my work and begin his own.”

Although that quote is about the 2nd Coming,

there is a truth in there about being prepared for divine interruptions.

I’ve always liked this passage in the Bible.

Jesus was on the way to heal Jairus’ daughter.

Instead, He bumped into a woman who needed Him instead.

Jesus didn’t go out of his way to heal the bleeding woman.

Rather, she was on the way. She was an “interruption”.

Perhaps in the time it took to speak to the woman, the girl died.

Jairus was the synagogue leader, influential person, and helpful to Jesus’ cause. He was responsible for synagogue affairs and the planning of synagogue worship. His post was one of highest respect and suggested that he had climbed the ladder of success.

The woman was unknown, unclean, untouched, unloved (?), shy, and female. Yet they were both equally loved by the Master.

Note: it was not her touching His garment that healed her – it was her faith. BUT, her faith was expressed in action.

Jesus took time out of His busy schedule to meet someone’s needs.

Jesus’ life was driven by God’s leading, not just a checklist of needs.

Even Jesus didn’t and couldn’t do it all.

He had to rely on the Father to know where to go and whom to touch.

Likewise, you can’t do it all, but you can do something.

Ask God what He wants you to do; ask Him where He wants you to go.

What can you do to accomplish an “on-the-way” ministry?

- 2 loaves of bread or 2 batches of cookies

- a whole mess of notes at the same time

- a number of phone calls all at once

- making a number of visits at a time or stopping to chat

- a prayer list

- ???

A good many are kept out of the service of Christ, deprived of the luxury of working for God, because they are trying to do some great thing. Let us be willing to do little things. And let us remember that nothing is small in which God is the source. - D. L. Moody