God Takes Care of Me (First Steps Devotions) (9 page)

Jairus was glad that he asked Jesus to help him. He learned
that it was not too late to ask Jesus for help.

Is it ever too late to ask God for help? Why? Why not?

Why do you think we wait until the last possible moment to
ask God to help us?

Why do we sometimes think it is too late to ask for God’s
help?

Dear God, I am glad You want to help me. I know sometimes
You are just waiting for me to ask You to help. Help me not to wait until the
last moment to ask for Your help.

Have you ever gotten in trouble for trying to help someone?
What happened?

How did it make you feel? Would you do it again? Why? Why
not?

Has anyone ever gotten in trouble for helping you? Why? How
did you feel then?

It was the Sabbath. The Sabbath was the Lord’s Day. Jesus
went into the synagogue. He taught the people about God.

Jesus saw a man in the synagogue who was hurt. His right
hand was crippled. Some people did not think Jesus should help the man on the
Sabbath. They thought the Sabbath should be used only for worshiping God.

“If you had a sheep that fell into a ditch on the Sabbath,”
Jesus asked them, “wouldn’t you lift it out? People are worth much more than
sheep, and so it is right to do good on the Sabbath.”

Then Jesus turned to the man who was hurt. “Hold out your
hand,” Jesus said to him. The man stretched out his hand. When he did, it was
healed.

Would there ever be a time that God could not help you? Why?
Why not?

Do you think God wants to help you? Why? Why not?

Dear God, thank You for always helping me. Thank You for
never being too busy for me, I need Your help.

Do you know someone who tells other people what to do?

Do they do what he or she tells them? Why? Why not?

Jesus had just entered Capernaum. An army officer, a Roman
soldier, ran up to Him. “My servant is at home in such terrible pain that he
can’t even move,” he told Jesus. “I will go and heal him,” Jesus said.

But the officer did not want Jesus to come to his house.
“I’m not good enough for you to come into my house,” he told Jesus. “Just give
the order, and my servant will get well.”

The officer was very important in the Roman army. He had
many people under his command. When he gave orders, people obeyed them. He knew
Jesus was important, too. If Jesus said that his servant would be healed, he
knew he would be healed.

Jesus was amazed: “I’ve never found anyone with this much
faith!” Then Jesus turned to the officer. “You may go home now,” He said. “Your
faith has made it happen.” When the officer got home, his servant was well.

Can God do anything He wants?

Is He in control of everything that happens?

How does this make you feel? Why?

Dear God, I know You can do whatever You want. Thank You for
always taking care of me. Help me to trust You more.

What is the saddest thing you have ever seen?

Did you try to help? Why? Why not?

Everywhere Jesus went He attracted a crowd. One day Jesus
entered the city of Nain. His disciples were with Him. So were many other
people.

A funeral procession was leaving the city. A young man had
just died. He was the only son in his family. His father was already dead.

Jesus took one look at the mother. She had no one left. She
was all alone. He felt sorry for her. “Don’t cry,” Jesus said to her.

Then Jesus walked over to the dead young man who was being
carried out of the city to be buried. The men carrying him stopped. Jesus
looked at the man lying there. “Young man,” Jesus said, “get up!” The man sat
up and started talking. Jesus gave him back to his mother.

Do you think God is ever sad? Why?

What do you think He does about it?

Dear God, thank You that You understand when I am sad. Thank
You for helping me be happy.

When was the last time you were discouraged?

What happened? What did you do about it?

John the Baptist and Jesus were cousins. John the Baptist
told people about Jesus. He even baptized Jesus. One day John the Baptist saw
Jesus coming. “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” he
told everyone.

But now John the Baptist was in prison. He had a lot of time
to think. He had a lot of questions, too. So he sent two of his disciples to
see Jesus. “Are you the one we should be looking for? Or must we wait for
someone else?” they asked Jesus.

“Go and tell John what you have heard and seen,” Jesus said
to them. “The blind are now able to see, and the lame can walk. People with
leprosy are being healed, and the deaf can hear. The dead are raised to life,
and the poor are hearing the good news.”

John the Baptist understood. He knew Jesus was the Messiah.
Jesus helped him feel better.

Who was the last person to encourage you?

What did he or she do?

Does God ever encourage you? How?

Dear God, sometimes I get discouraged. Thank You for
encouraging me. I want to let You encourage me more. Next time I want to turn
to You for help first.

Who is the strongest person you know?

Could you defeat this person? Could you defeat this person
if you had some help?

Who could help you defeat this strong person?

Jesus loved everyone. He wanted to help people. One day some
people brought a man to see Jesus. They wanted Jesus to help him. The man could
not see or speak.

Jesus knew why the man could not see or speak. But Jesus is
stronger than sickness, and He could help the man. Jesus healed him. The man
could see. He could speak, too.

Everyone was shocked: “Could Jesus be the Son of David?”

The Pharisees were not convinced. “He forces out demons by
the power of the ruler of the demons,” they said.

Jesus explained that Satan would not defeat himself. Jesus
took care of people even when Satan was hurting them.

Can anyone defeat God? Why not?

What do you do when you are having problems? Why?

What should you do?

Dear God, sometimes I have problems I cannot solve. You are
the only One who can help me. Please help me solve my problems.