Page 13 - Week of Emphasis Devotional

Daily text: Mark 5: 38-43

In Mark chapter 5, we read of Jesus’ healing ministry and the large crowds that followed
Him. Jairus, a leader in the synagogue, was desperate. His daughter was ill, and despite
Jesus’ unpopularity with the Jewish leadership of the day, Jairus knew the man from Galilee,
sent from God, had the healing touch. So he pleaded with Jesus. The Saviour, recognizing a
parent’s love mingled with faith, healed the little girl. Then, Jesus gave instruction that she
should be given something to eat.

Healthy children who have plenty of nutritious food to eat is every parent’s desire. While
the issues that cause preventable maternal and child deaths are complex and overlapping,
so are ADRA’s responses. ADRA connects with communities in Laos, Cambodia, and Yemen
to improve the lives of children and parents by improving access to health clinics and
training community health care workers. ADRA Canada also works closely with parents and
caregivers to share life-saving information and training for nutrition in children five years old
and younger.

Through ADRA’s efforts, God’s gifts of health and nutrition are being realized in areas where
we work, leading to happy, smiling children.

Questions for reflection/discussion:

1. Health is such a wonderful priviledge and gift. God desires that we may “prosper and be
in good health even as our soul prospers.” (3 John. 2, NKJV) How can we promote health
and wholeness in a way that transforms our communities?

2. God created Eden and gave our first parents a plant-based diet, which was the ideal. How
can our health message inform our efforts to feed the hungry?

3. What we eat is what we are, as it is often said. How can we use health and nutrition as
a means to help people know God and His original plan for us? If this is the right arm of
the gospel, how can we use it more effectively?

Quote: “Health is not everything, but without it, everything is nothing.”
-Dr Hans Diehl

Appeal: Will you thank God today for the gift of health and desire to share this gift with
others? What can you do make a difference in the lives of so many people who experience
poor health?

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for being the health of our countenance (Psalm 42) and
desiring us to experience wholeness in mind, body, and spirit for total health. May you help
us to demonstrate your love in practical ways as you did by meeting people at their point of
need including the basic right for food. Thank you for bread today, may we lead others to you
the Bread of Life who alone can satisfy the hunger of the human soul today and forever, in
Jesus’ name. Amen.

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