Serve the Lord
Why would Peter’s mother-in-law do this? Well, it says she had received healing from Jesus at her home. “He touched her hand, and the fever left her” (vs. 15a). Wouldn’t you be moved to serve someone that had provided healing for you, physically, emotionally or spiritually? I can’t pass this up. He touched her hand, the fever left her, she was healed, she was healthy, and prepared to serve him.
That’s really what happens when the Spirit of God delivers the gospel to your mind and heart; you believe, receive Jesus, and you are immediately healed, spiritually alive, dead to your sin, and should be ready to serve the Lord in whatever way he asks. Does that describe you?
Abide in Christ
Paul said—“For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Phil. 1.21). What does he mean, ‘to live is Christ’? Well, he answers it in the next verse. “If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me” (vs. 22a). That ties directly into Ephesians 2. 10. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
And how do we do that well? By abiding in Christ. He is the vine and we are the branches. John 15.1-12 sets out what God will produce in and through us. “Fruit, more fruit, much fruit!’ Peter’s mother-in-law was up and ready to start producing fruit for the Kingdom, by serving Jesus. Like her, Paul and John, when we are doing that, the results are much fruit!! Healed people do this well!
