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Faith Confirmed

John 4:51-54
While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. When he enquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, ‘Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.’ Then the father realised that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, ‘Your son will live.’ So he and his whole household believed. This was the second sign Jesus performed after coming from Judea to Galilee. (NIVUK)

The interval between praying and receiving God's answer provides an important test of our relationship with Him.  The royal official, whose son was dying, travelled a long way to ask Jesus for help.  Although his son was still over twenty miles away, the man believed the words of Jesus, "‘Go,’ Jesus replied, ‘your son will live’" (John 4:50).  His obedience, in leaving Cana and returning to Capernaum before he saw the miracle, was the evidence of his faith.

That faith was rewarded because his servants came along the road to Cana to meet him with the good news that the boy had recovered.  And he found that the sudden recovery occurred at exactly the same time that Jesus had spoken.  This miracle did not require a theatrical demonstration but simply enough faith to ask Jesus to help, and then faith to believe what Jesus had said.  The royal official did not beg Jesus to come back to Capernaum, to lay His hands on the boy.  The boy was not healed by Jesus' touch, but by His power in response to the official’s faith in Jesus’ promise.

Faith and practical obedience are always linked (James 2:14-26).  Those who do not believe God's Word will not obey it: but those who trust the Lord are confident to pray, leave the matter with Him, and continue to be obedient until the answer is given.  By contrast, those whose faith is weak will continue to worry and fret because they have not yet seen God's answer.  Those people are also deflected from obeying what they know the Lord is asking them to do.

The big question is do we believe that the Lord knows the perfect answer and has the power to bring all things under His control, including us (Philippians 3:21)!  The Bible assures us that He does have that knowledge and power, so let us practise believing the truth, praying in faith, and living in obedience.

Prayer 
Loving Lord. Thank You for Your great care of all that You have made and Your longing to bless everybody as they submit to You. I am sorry when I often worry and don't pray; or when I pray but continue to worry. Help me to trust in Your supreme knowledge and power. Help me to place my requests before You and continue to live obediently until You reveal Your answer. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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© Dr Paul Adams