They Walked with Him: Peter's Mother-in-Law

When Jesus had come into Peter's house, He saw his wife's mother lying sick with a fever. So He touched her hand, and the fever left her. And she arose and served them.
Matthew 8:14-15

He touched her . . . She arose and served them.

Recommended Reading Matthew 8:14-16

Those three verbs encompass the whole of the Christian life. When we ask Jesus to become our Savior, He touches us as surely as He touched the hand of Peter's mother-in-law in Capernaum. It reminds us of the old song that says when we were shackled by a heavy burden beneath a load of guilt and shame, the hand of Jesus touched us and now we are no longer the same. We rise with new spiritual life. "And you He made alive," says Ephesians 2:1.

And we rise to serve.

Notice this woman's service began at home. She instantly began serving Jesus and Peter and her household. How our marriages would be transformed if we adopted an attitude of servanthood at home! Does the floor need sweeping? Do the dishes need washing? Does your spouse need a hug? Do your children need time and attention?

When He touches us, we become servants who touch others.

He touched me, oh, He touched me and, oh, the joy that floods my soul!
Bill Gaither