He Sees YOU!

“One Sabbath day as Jesus was teaching in a synagogue, 11 he saw a woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight. 12 When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, “Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!” 13 Then he touched her, and instantly she could stand straight. How she praised God!” Luke 13: 10-13 NLT

There are periods of time in our lives that are marked with such severe pain that we find ourselves spiritually, emotionally and attitudinally bent beneath the gravity of our circumstance. These are the seemingly impenetrable places of darkness and isolation where we solitarily face unrelenting illness, financial turmoil and mental stain. Often as believers, we press pass such personal struggles into the house of worship on a regular basis. Like this woman crippled “by a spirit of infirmity” we consistently come to the house of God in search of answers to our problems. How many of us can honestly say, though that we also bring an equal measure of faith when we arrive? I find it interesting that the Bible describes this sister as being in the synagogue, as it was common during that time for individuals with physical and mental illness to be shunned as unclean by the community. Many such persons were disallowed from public gathering places, even God’s house. This woman’s problem was not one that she could easily hide as we see that she was visibly crippled, “bowed together” and bent over, and yet she is found on sacred pages seeking God. How fortunate many of us think we are that most of our issues are tucked safely away out of view from the prying eyes of friends, family and the church community. I am sure that there were many in the temple crowd that day just as pained as this woman, yet verse 12 dramatically from historical backdrop into a pivotal encounter with Heaven’s best: “he saw her”.
Jesus sees our inside and outside condition with equal clarity. No human person may know the sickness of mind, body, or spirit that we are currently fighting, but Jesus sees and He knows each of us in an individual way. The Great Physician’s care plan for you is designed for you and you alone! I can’t take your medicine; I must take my own! I love the resolution of verse 12. When Jesus saw her, He not only observed her painful problem; He was moved by her tenacious and tangible faith. It is this faith that compelled Him to call her out for a healing that ultimately brought glory to God!
When a caring Saviour sees the issue that has you bent to the point of breaking, what else does He see? Does He also see a man or woman determined to enter into His gates with thanksgiving in spite of? Does he see a heart that desires to glorify God in all things? Having shared the burden of humanity with us, our Lord recognizes the strain on your face, the bend in your back and the ache in your heart. Jesus knows the very moment your suffering began. He has been with you through every uneven step. Be encouraged today to press into God’s presence with unwavering faith. Know that God sees, cares and will soon call you out of the crowd!

The Word reassures us in Romans 8:26-28 that “the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. “ Our ultimate purpose is to bring glory to God, both in our suffering and our deliverance. Your breakthrough is coming in the mighty name of Jesus!


Dr.’s Orders for Today:
1) Intercede specifically today for a person that you personally know who has carried a physical, emotional or spiritual burden for a long period of time. Pray that they will be strengthened by a stronger relationship with God and renewed faith for ultimate healing. Pray that they recognize the glory of God in their lives.
2) Write a short note or email of encouragement to this person simply stating that you love them and that you are praying for them. Be sure to include a scripture reference that they can refer back to.