I was talking with some friends at a Bible study about Matthew chapter eight the other ngiht. It’s a pretty intense set of verses that reveals the authority of Jesus. The chapter picks up just after Jesus’ famous Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) where the listeners were astonished because Jesus was teaching “as one who had authority” (Matthew 7:29). There’s a verse in the middle of chapter eight I’d like to zoom in on.

Jesus is entering Peter’s home, and He finds Peter’s mother-in-law sick with a fever. Verse 15 says, “He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve Him” (Matthew 8:15). It’s her response that stood out to me – she rose and began to serve Him.

This sentence had me convicted. I wonder if you can relate to this. So often I find myself asking for things from the Lord, He then provides in some way, and I end up going right back to the way I was living before the provision – unchanged.

See, Peter’s mother-in-law was healed unto something. Surely, she desired to be made well. But she didn’t take that blessing and run into selfishness. No, in her wellness she turned right back around and served the Lord.

Friend, we need to remember that God desires a relationship with us in just the same way that we desire to know Him. It’s His desire that we live in union with one another. God is not a genie, although I must admit I often talk to Him as such – just wanting the thing I want and all too willing to step away from the Lord upon receiving.

This has been a sobering realization for me. God’s provision and His blessing is for us, yes, but it’s so that we might step into a deeper walk with Him and in a more wholistic obedience towards Him. Friend, the things we receive from God ought to function as a catalyst to deeper faith.

As we step into a belief in Jesus, we begin the process of sanctification – a fancy word for becoming like Jesus. He’s our ultimate example. The perfect One. It’s in the Gospel of Mark that we see why Jesus came. He says, “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

Jesus, God Himself, came to serve. Peter’s mother-in-law after receiving the blessing of supernatural healing, stepped straight into serving. When we receive any good gift from the Lord, we ought to follow in their footsteps.

What is it that you have received of the Lord? And we all have. This could be your talents and giftings, your position, a supernatural experience, a healing – what comes to mind? Now take that and find ways to serve other people with it. Prayerfully consider where the Lord may have use of the things He’s gifted you with. And we must never forget, even God Himself came to serve – let’s step up, rise, and do the same.