The good or the bad?

Recently whilst talking about this healing miracle someone mused “I wonder which hand the man stretched out first”. I began to question my previous assumption and wondered for the first time, did he automatically stretch out his withered hand? After all he must have been used to reaching out to receive things with his good hand and so surely he would instinctively reach out that hand to receive from Jesus. Perhaps Jesus had to indicate to him “No, not the good one but the withered one”.

Considering this question made me think how often we are reluctant to show our weaknesses. We may readily show others, and Jesus, the bits of us that we consider ‘good’, useful and acceptable but often try to keep our ‘withered’, weak or damaged places hidden. Like the man we are used to working round our limitations; physical, emotional and spiritual. We feel more in control when the needy place is hidden and ignored so we reach out to receive healing with those parts of us we deem presentable.

If the man had only been willing to stretch out to Jesus the ‘good’ hand he would never have had the withered hand healed. He had to do something that he wasn’t used to doing and allow the full extent of his weakness to be seen by Jesus, and by all the others standing around the synagogue.

Are you hiding your weaknesses from Jesus when these withered places are exactly what He would want you to stretch out into the light for healing? Today is an excellent day to stretch out and expose our dysfunctional places to the healing touch of Jesus.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, You know the truth of all my withered and dysfunctional inner places in my soul and spirit. I ask You to give me courage to reach out in the reality of my needs. Amen.