Raised Up

I love the way Mark's Gospel has a sense of immediacy. Some English translations of the Gospel of Mark use the words "immediately" while others use "as soon as." The English Standard Version uses "immediately" nine times in the 45 verses of the first chapter of Mark. Jesus was going through Galilee preaching and healing. Here he called Simon Peter and his brother Andrew to become disciples. They "immediately" left their nets and followed him (Mark 1:16-20 ESV).

After leaving the synagogue in Capernaum, they went to Simon Peter's house.

And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
Mark 1:29-31 ESV

I've thought a lot about this account. The very first thing this unnamed woman did after being raised up was to "serve them." She has taught me when God gives us healing, gives us our life and strength back, the right response to the strength he gives is to use that strength in service to God with the means and opportunity we have in our own circumstances. She saw an opportunity to feed these men who were tired and hungry. She was so grateful to have her health back, she went right to work taking care of the need at hand.

I tend to be a procrastinator. I need the reminding of Mark that doing something "immediately" is the right response to serving our Father in heaven.