God’s Timing is Perfect - Luke 13-14

 Luke 13:10-12 (ESV)

A Woman with a Disabling Spirit

Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. And behold, there was a woman who had had a disabling spirit for eighteen years. She was bent over and could not fully straighten herself. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, “Woman, you are freed from your disability.”

God’s timing is amazing.    In the above story we read about this woman (who remains identified to us) and her disability.    Later in the story we will read that the cause of this long time challenge was by the hands of Satan, himself:

Luke 13:16 (ESV)

And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?”

The point of the story in Luke’s gospel is to confront the religious leaders once again about the purpose of the Sabbath.    But, an ancillary truth we find is in regard to the timing of God.  God is not late to the party, even though this has been going on for 18 years.   This woman had this issue for one purpose and one purpose only: For the glory of Christ.   Christ would need her at this moment and time in life to bring glory to God in order to magnifying Christ in front of the lost and dying world.  Note what it says at the end of this encounter between this woman, the rulers of the synagogue and Jesus:

 Luke 13:17 (ESV)

As he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame, and all the people rejoiced at all the glorious things that were done by him.

When Paul wrote to us and stated the following, this might be one of the best examples of his teaching:

Romans 8:28 (ESV)

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

God’s timing is for His glory to bring honor and power to the name of Jesus.    We look at our disabilities, no matter their level of discomfort and challenge, and believe some how we are missing out.  When, in reality, God is using our lives to bring Him glory.   We are NOT on this earth for our comfort, glory, honor or pleasure.   We are on this earth, no matter what shape, size and situation we find ourselves, for His benefit and His purpose.   We are here to bring Him glory.   What if: 

Romans 9:22-23 (ESV)

What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—