LAY THEM DOWN

Matthew 15:30 . . Then great multitudes came to Him, having with them the lame, blind, mute, maimed, and many others; and they laid them down at Jesus' feet, and he healed them.

Ahh!! There's a secret here. I take my 'many other's to Jesus, and I might even lay them down at His feet . . . but I still hold tight.

Jesus was on the side of a mountain. Can't you picture these people trudging up that hill with their burdens (their lame, blind, . . and many others) in their arms? Even a child becomes heavy after awhile of not being able to support their own weight. They would have been tired when they reached Jesus, winded, arms and backs aching and legs perhaps too weak to take another step.

I can imagine they were more than ready to lay their precious ones at His feet, then perhaps step back or sit down to catch their breath and see what Jesus would do. "Here, Jesus . . . I can't carry this charge one step further."

My problem? Oh--I climb the hill. I even believe that Jesus is able to heal. But I won't relinquish my . . . many others. I stand there winded and anxious, my lungs bursting in need of air, and my back bent and aching because I continue to hold tight. The distance from my arms to His feet a chasm I don't have faith enough to cross.

Isn't that silly? Can't you just hear Him say. . . letitgo! Turn loose! give it up!!

Have you ever walked 'down' a steep hill with your arms full. Your own weight alone propels you forward, faster, faster, faster, until at the bottom you are in a heap, debris showering you, dirt in your eyes, pebbles pelting your shoulders. You're shaken, bruised, humiliated, and . . . let's face it, plumb mad. The journey would have been so much safer if you had been able to use your arms and hands for balance, or to cling to a bush or an outcropped rock--or even been able to SEE the root strewn across the path because your arms were now empty.

And you could have--had you laid your . . . many others. . .at His feet, and let Him heal them i the manner He chose . . . and not held on . . . and not held on. .

It's not carrying the load uphill that glorifies God. It's not even standing at His feet with our arms full. It's the turning loose, letting go. It's the LAID THEM AT HIS FEET!

HE does the healing.