And there was a woman who for eighteen years had had a sickness caused by a spirit; and she was bent double, and could not straighten up at all. When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your sickness.” And He laid His hands on her; and immediately she was made erect again and began glorifying God.
Luke 13:11-13 (NASB)
As I read of this poor woman in the synagogue what struck me wasn’t her many years of suffering, but instead her reaction to being miraculously healed by Jesus – “she began glorifying God.” Her story reminds me of the lame beggar who was miraculously healed in the name of Jesus by Peter: “With a leap he stood upright and began to walk; and he entered the temple with them, walking and leaping and praising God” (Acts 3:8). In both cases the healed individuals gave glory to God before all who witnessed it. Yet another case that comes to mind is the man of Decapolis freed from demon possession; he wanted to follow Jesus but the Lord sent him to witness in his town what God had done for him – I wonder how many souls were saved by his “glorifying God” for his healing? (Mark 5:18-20).
These and many others healed by Jesus then, and in later years too, had “a new song in their mouth, one of praise to their God” (Psalm 40:3). Many saw and heard their witness and were saved. This is also my story, I was miraculously saved from sin and I have not stopped singing God’s praise since that glorious day in 1984. The hallelujahs of the healed down through many centuries have introduced many to the Almighty who saved them.
Dear Reader, have you been healed in your body or in your soul? Do you sing hallelujahs before men to the glory of Him who saved you? There is no greater witness to God’s grace than seeing faith in action before one’s eyes.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Devotional Treasures
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