{"id":23018,"date":"2025-01-16T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-16T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/urc\/urc-daily-devotion-thursday-16-january-2025"},"modified":"2025-01-16T06:00:00","modified_gmt":"2025-01-16T06:00:00","slug":"urc-daily-devotion-thursday-16-january-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trinitywimbledon.org\/index.php\/urc-daily-devotion-thursday-16-january-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"URC Daily Devotion Thursday 16 January 2025"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n\n
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inspiration in your inbox<\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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Thursday 16 January 2025<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

St Luke 9: 37 – 43<\/strong><\/p>\n

On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, \u2018Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child.  Suddenly a spirit seizes him, and all at once he shrieks. It throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth; it mauls him and will scarcely leave him.  I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.\u2019  Jesus answered, \u2018You faithless and perverse generation, how much longer must I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.\u2019  While he was coming, the demon dashed him to the ground in convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astounded at the greatness of God.<\/p>\n

Reflection<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with a na\u00efve question : why did Jesus perform miracles?
 
Any miracle is an outpouring of God\u2019s power and when Jesus performed miracles they were a sign of the arrival of God\u2019s kingdom in him, revealing Jesus\u2019 identity as the Christ, and also fulfilling Old Testament prophecy about the healing of the lame, sick and blind.
There is something about the way in which the miracles are related in the gospels which feels as though the power of God was present in Jesus in such a way that sometimes the discharge of power was inevitable, even uncontrolled. Rather like high voltage electricity arcing through space in a crackle of energy, the great power of God surged through Jesus. This could lead to healing even without Jesus\u2019 conscious action \u2013 as when the woman with the haemorrhage touched Jesus\u2019 cloak.
 
This might leave us feeling that miracles are very much a part of the life of Jesus, but have very little relevance to our lives.
 
But today\u2019s miracle is an act of deep compassion by Jesus. The boy\u2019s father begs Jesus to help, his disciples having failed to heal. As the boy is brought forward he again has a seizure and immediately, without any fuss, we are told that Jesus heals with a few simple words.
The boy needs help and healing \u2013 Jesus gives it. The people around are all amazed at the greatness of God.
 
Here is a story which can seem directly relevant to us, as the body of Christ. Where we see people in need, where others beg for help, where healing is required \u2013 then we should act with the compassion of Jesus. Where we can, we should be a conduit for God\u2019s love and wholeness. When we do this, we are not only acting as decent human beings, or even showing that we are followers of Jesus, we are helping to open hearts around us to the greatness of God. This should challenge us to act.
 
Prayer<\/strong><\/p>\n

God who is love,
Through your power, shown in Jesus, a boy was healed.
By that same power, challenge us to act in your name,
So that your healing love may be seen at work in our day,
And Christ\u2019s church may continue to reveal your glory.
So may we and all your children be made whole. Amen.<\/p>\n

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Today’s writer<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Revd Ruth Whitehead, Minister Landsker Pastorate, Pembrokeshire.<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright \u00a9 1989, 1995 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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inspiration in your inbox Thursday 16 January 2025 St Luke 9: 37 – 43 On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him. Just then a man from the crowd shouted, \u2018Teacher, I beg you to look at my son; he is my only child.  Suddenly a … <\/p>\n

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