(The following is the February 16 devotional from my Next Step Devotions book. Before reading it, I suggest you read Mark 5 and pay close attention to verses 41-43.)
It is easy to overlook the end of the story when Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead. The main story, of course, is the miracle of Jesus bringing the girl back to life, but the account ends with Jesus telling those present to give her something to eat (v. 43).
Small details like this to care for the child’s nourishment are precious gems scattered throughout the Bible. They remind us of Jesus’ humanity and God’s concern with all aspects of our lives. Such details endear us more to the wonder of God’s Word as it reveals our loving, caring, personal, detail-oriented Father. It shows a God who knows us by name and wants what is best for us. And sometimes, simple physical nourishment is best, like Jesus sought for the girl he raised from the dead.
As Christians, we should be concerned with the spiritual and physical needs of those we serve. We must fulfill the Great Commission to make disciples, calling people to repentance and faith in Christ. While doing that, we can love them by meeting their physical needs. Doing so does not replace sharing the gospel, nor is it a distraction or mere add-on. It is a practical demonstration of Christ’s love – a simple act that may lead to more opportunities to explain the reason for the hope that we have (1 Peter 3:15).
Some people accuse Christians of being so heavenly-minded that they are no earthly good. We should never let that perception accurately reflect our lives or our church’s witness. Find a need and fill it in the name of our Lord Jesus, who came to seek and save the lost and cared enough about a young girl he raised from the dead to ensure she got something to eat.
Next Step:
Categorize the ministries you spend time with as either primarily spiritual or physical. Are you weighted heavily toward one side or the other? Are your church’s ministries predominantly spiritual or physical? Does there need to be a different balance for you or your church? If so, what steps can you take to improve that balance?
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