Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
Alan Fong
3 min read
A Baby's First Words
Today’s Verse:
And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. ~Matthew 8:2
A baby’s first words are very memorable to parents. While we see this as an achievement of growth, it is also the little child’s way of expressing himself to his parents. Matthew 8 is a chapter of Scripture filled with the exciting details of the start of Jesus’ ministry among people. In this chapter, we see His encounters with a leper, a centurion on behalf of his servant who was very ill with the palsy, Peter’s mother-in-law who was sick with a fever, multitudes possessed with demons, a great tempest at sea with His disciples, and two demon-possessed men of Gadara. This morning, let us see the first words of a believer.
We see words of dependence.
The leper and the centurion’s first word was “Lord.” The leper had an incurable disease. He was outcast from society. The centurion was a man of authority and had the resources of Rome available to him. However, none of the doctors or the medicine in Rome had any ability to help his servant. The first word out of their mouth was that of dependence. This is the starting point in faith. It is realizing that we need the Lord and that without Him, we can do nothing. The word of dependence tells the Lord that we need Him to be saved, we need Him for our supply, and we need Him for our sufficiency.
We see words of devotion.
As he spoke, the leper worshipped Jesus. As he spoke, the centurion showed deference, humility, and reverence. Peter’s mother-in-law ministered to the Lord as soon as she was healed of the fever. She spoke through her actions. They demonstrated allegiance, loyalty, and complete devotion to Jesus. Devotion is when you give all your heart to someone. You are devoted to whom you give 100%+ of your effort to and whom you give complete adoration to. When little children speak to their parents, they are words of devotion. Let us make sure the Lord hears and knows our heart’s devotion for Him.
We see words of desperation.
After a great tempest came and water filled the little ship that the disciples and Jesus were in, the disciples were filled with great fear. Their words to Jesus were, “Lord, save us: we perish.” Little children are frightened easily by both sights and sounds. They anxiously call their parents by saying, “Daddy, Daddy” or, “Mommy, Mommy.” It is a cry of desperation for help. It is a cry for preservation and protection. God purposely brings a great tempest into our life to teach us to draw near to him. Without these tempests, we are independent and self-sufficient. Times of desperation drive us to our knees and draw us closer to Him.
We see words of defeat.
Two men of Gadara came out of the tombs to meet Jesus. These men were filled with demonic spirits that made them violent and fierce. These demons knew that as Jesus approached them to deal with them. Their words were, “What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God?” When a little child knows that he has been disobedient or out of the way, he eventually comes around and surrenders to the authority of his parents. Words of defeat indicate that there are no more contentions or fighting. Three words are essential to a life of victory: I surrender all. Do the words that you speak to the Lord indicate your dependence, devotion, desperation, and defeat?
Have a worshipful God Morning!
Bible Reading Schedule: Psalms 80-85
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