Sing a New Song
Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.—Psalm 96:1 (NIV)
The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed.—JOHN 4:49–50 NIV
The royal official must have been desperate. He had probably made offerings to the many Roman gods but his son was still sick. He’d heard about a prophet the local Galileans called Jesus. Everyone was looking to see what miracles He would perform.
The official found Jesus and begged Him to come heal his son. But Jesus didn’t do the expected. He didn’t go to heal the man’s son. Instead, He simply said that the son would live. The man may have had a moment of confusion at the unexpected turn of events, but he took Jesus at His word. He believed that Jesus’ word could heal his son, even though he’d expected that Jesus would have to touch his son to heal him. When he arrived home and found his son well, he and his whole household believed.
Sometimes we are like this official. We look to Jesus as a last resort, and then we expect Him to act in a certain way. But as we look through the Gospels, we see that Jesus healed in a variety of ways. Still today He works any way He chooses, not just the way we expect.
Are you looking for Jesus to act in a certain way to answer a prayer? Ask God to open your eyes to the unexpected ways He is working.
Lord Jesus, thank You for being intimately involved in our lives. Remind us to trust You for everything. Amen.
Share this story
Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.—Psalm 96:1 (NIV)
Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant my desire.—Job 6:8 (NIV)
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners.—Isaiah 61:1 (NIV)