This post is Day 17 in a series of studies about “Followers of Jesus”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

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Followers of Jesus – Day 17

As I read Matthew 10, I do not see Jesus giving that instruction at all, He never said to pray for the sick! In fact in the version of the Bible which I read most regularly, He only told us to pray for people who persecute and who mistreat us.

Matthew 10:7-8

As you go, proclaim this message: “The kingdom of Heaven has come near. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.”

The Thought

These instructions still ring today in the ears of many believers, because Jesus is still telling us the same things. His followers are continuing to do as He instructed in many places in the world, but sadly there are many who consider themselves followers, but who don’t know how to pray for others. We have all been in situations when someone needs healing, and sadly many of us have said “I’ll pray for you”, meaning that we would add their names to a list of people we pray for regularly. (I have done that many times myself.)

As I read Matthew 10, I do not see Jesus giving that instruction at all, He never said “pray for the sick! In fact in the version of the Bible which I read most regularly, (NIV), He told us to pray for only two groups of people: those who persecute us Matthew 5:44 and those who mistreat us Luke 6:28.

That is a challenge that some of us need to rise to, it is too easy to complain to others about the sufferings we go through, in our daily lives. Instead we should pray.

But Jesus does tell us to HEAL the sick:-

Luke 9:2 “Proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.”

Luke 10:9 “Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The Kingdom of God has come near you.'”

Action

Pray today that the blinkers and masks that the enemy has put on much of the church will be removed, and the Followers of Jesus will arise and do what He told us to do wherever we are:- Be His witnesses and heal the sick.

Ask Jesus today to lead you to pray with someone needing His healing touch through you.