The miracles of Jesus - Classical Christian Literature by Athleo.net

THE WITHERED HAND 243
one to sacrifice time, or pride which refuses to give up
old habits, or avarice which would keep all
one gains,
or distrust of God which prevents any venture into
new effort or service. He is able to reveal the sin,
and to destroy it, and He only. Our fellow-men can
only advise us and entreat us, and can do no more
than the physicians did for this poor sufferer ; but if
the prayer arises to Christ from each, " Lord, have
mercy upon me," each one may feel the stirring of a
new power and of a fresh purpose, and respond as
Saul of Tarsus did, in the words, " Lord, what wilt
Thou have me to do
There can, however, be no benediction unless, as on
the part of this man, there is receptivity. If we
would ourselves receive it, we must remember that
what we see in that patient is what Christ is waiting
for in us. Possibly the man went to the synagogue
expecting nothing wonderful, but because he went he
was in the right place to receive a blessing, and he
found healing there suddenly as the man found the
treasure hid in the field. And thus many have
entered the House of God to be pleased or even
amused, and unexpectedly and undeservedly have
found salvation in Christ. But restoration can never
come to any who are unwilling to obey the word of
Christ.
When this man heard the command, " Stand
forth," he did so without hesitation, and because he
did that he was soon able to do more. Similarly, if
the Lord says to any one of us, " Give up that sin,"
" Bow down in penitential prayer," and there is
hesitation and delay, the blessing may elude us, for if
we do not obey the command, " Stand forth," we may
never hear the command, " Stretch out thine hand."
or