Family First
Peter’s Mother-in-law
It
can be tough getting and keeping priorities straight. Some days, work
gets in the way of family matters and other days, work has to take a
back seat. I think, though, we can all agree on the importance of
family.
Jesus
called men in the community to follow Him in ministry. These men gave
up their careers, left their families and spent 3 years traveling
with Jesus. Much of their work kept them in their own community so
I’m certain they saw their families on a regular basis but still,
they made Jesus and His ministry their priority. Yet, in this brief
account, Jesus shows that family is always important.
It’s
hard to focus on the work at hand when you’re worried about the
health of a loved one. Simon’s mother-in-law was sick with a fever,
a very serious thing in those days since any number of things could
cause a fever and many of them were difficult if not impossible to
diagnose and treat.
The
disciples spoke to Jesus, telling Him about the crisis in Simon’s
family. Jesus immediately went to Simon’s house and healed his
mother-in-law. Not just healed her but made her completely well so
she was able to immediately get up and serve them.
I
remember a time when I was very young. I suffered from severe asthma.
Serious attacks often came in the middle of the night when I would be
moved to the recliner in the living room, my parents keeping watch in
case things got worse.
One
night, I had a very serious attack. I still remember crying for my
grandmother. No one else could help me so, in the middle of the
night, my parents called and my grandmother came in a taxi to take
care of me. Having her there helped calm me and soon my asthma
settled down. My parents would have done ANYTHING to help me that
night and on other long nights.
Simon
would have done ANYTHING to help his mother-in-law, to ease the
concern of his family. Jesus was able to offer the help he needed.
These days, we must remember our priorities when illness strikes our
family. We must take the steps necessary to give aid and comfort to
those in need. Finally, we must call on Jesus to take them by the
hand and lift them up. A wonderful prescription then AND now.
Discussion
Questions
1.
Do you sometimes struggle to get priorities straight when family
members become ill?
2.
How do you handle the illness of a child when your job doesn’t
allow you time to care for them?
3.
What steps do you take when family members become ill?
4.
Talk to your children about their responsibilities when members of
your extended family become ill?
5.
Do you always offer up prayer when a member of your family is ill?
Like this:
Like Loading...