"Think Of It - His Heart Revealed"

Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity." And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. Luke 13:10-13

Lord, I don't know how to share what I feel and see? How do I express with words that I feel your heart, not just for this poor woman, but for all those that are bound, waiting to be loosed from their infirmities. I'm sitting here crying for a woman you already healed!

I think, in this moment, that this is one of those times that it is important to put yourself in the position of being there. So to that end, I'm going to ask that you really participate in today's word. Think about your Sunday worship service. Think about what it would be like if you came this next Sunday and this scene played out before you. Think about someone in your congregation that has been battling for a while with their infirmity. Your Pastor is in the middle of his message when all of a sudden he stops mid sentence because he notices your infirm person sitting there, bound up in their struggle. He calls to them and tells them that they are loosed from their infirmity. He doesn't stop there he leaves the podium and goes to them, puts his hands on them and immediately they stand up straight and start glorifying God!

What would your response to such an event be? Would you like the Pharisee in this account be upset. He was angry because Jesus healed her on the Sabbath. He had his rules, his traditions. Would it matter more to you that the sermon or the traditions of your service were interrupted?  Or, because you know the extent of their struggle, would you instead be in tears, rejoicing and praising God that he had set your person free?

I have just spent the last three hours crying trying to write what He has shown me in this incredible account. He saw her! He called to her! It was his heart to set her free! He knew the extent of her struggle! Listen to His response to the Pharisees criticism. Pay close attention. See his heart!

"Hypocrites! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or his donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound-think of it-for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?"Luke 13:15-16

He calls them hypocrites with an exclamation point after it. He is talking with passion. He is totally serious about what He is saying. His heart towards this woman and her situation is exposed for all to see. After he tells them why they are hypocrites (the you take care of your animals thing) he makes sure they understand that if their animals deserve water so doesn't this woman who is a daughter of Abraham. His next statement reveals even more about his heart ...whom Satan has bound-think of it-for eighteen years...He is making this logical argument one minute about their compassion and care for their beasts and her heritage and therefore her right to be set free when He interrupts it with this... whom Satan has bound-think of it-for eighteen years emotional argument. When He said. "Think of it" it revealed His anguish, His compassion, for the extent of her suffering. Those three words communicate so much about His heart concerning her suffering. He didn't just say, "Think of it." He said it with passion, with conviction trying to motivate compassion and understanding in their hearts. "Think of it - for  eighteen  years!" His understanding of her years of  suffering were revealed by the anguish in his tone of voice, and the love in His eyes. The "Hasn't she suffered enough," question hanging, unspoken. It worked!

And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitudes rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him. Luke 13:17

You can't read this without seeing that it IS HIS HEART to set the captives free! If you are reading this today and you are struggling with an infirmity know that He sees your struggle. His word to you is, "You are loosed!" Receive His touch, stand up, look straight up to heaven and give Him praise!

Strong's definition of infirmity - feebleness(of body or mind) by impl. malady; frailty and it comes from a root word that means strength less(fig. or mor.) If this is you than know He sees you! It is his heart to touch you!