Just A Touch

Luke 8:42-48

Have you ever struggled, dealing with a physical or mental condition for about a week or two? I can only imagine, whatever it was you dealt with brought only misery and headaches, while you prayed fervently for God to relieve you of your condition, and bring healing to your body, and peace to your mind. The moment your issue was fully removed, I’m apt to believe you felt a sense of joy, the likes of which you haven’t felt in a long time. Now, take a moment to revisit that temporary condition, and imagine suffering with it for 12 years! Yeah, 12 looooooong years. This was the case with the woman in our text.

For 12 years, the Bible mentions this woman had an issue of blood, that could not be resolved by conventional means. After spending all her money on medical treatments with multiple physicians, the woman’s condition only grew worse! I can’t even begin to fathom how this woman felt, while going through a seemingly endless season of suffering. After placing all her trust in those who were trained to study and understand the human body, the woman’s faith in physicians had no doubt run out.

One day, the woman who had a suffered a physical ailment for over 4,000 days, heard about Jesus. The Scriptures aren’t descriptive on what she heard, or who she heard it from, but whatever she was told, was enough to move her to seek this Jesus.

Jesus had just returned from casting a legion of devils from a man on the other side of the sea, and was greeted by a great crowd of people, who were awaiting His return. As the crowd continued to swell around Jesus, the woman with the issue of blood arrived, then pressed her way through to get to Jesus. She said, “If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.” That’s what you call faith in action. The woman had no other options to turn to, because everyone and everything she tried failed. But, the instant she touched the border of Jesus’ garment, the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

Twelve dreadful years of excruciating pain and suffering, was gone in an instant! Not only was the woman astonished, but the Son of God literally felt virtue leave His body, after the woman’s touch. It was the woman’s faith that made her whole, and Jesus was pleased to see another body and soul healed by the power of God.

While we may not have a similar condition as the woman in our lesson, we too struggle with other things that seem to weigh us down. The power of God is still relevant today, as it was during the time when Jesus walked the earth, but the key to overcoming our struggles is, placing all our faith, trust, and confidence in the power of God, knowing that He alone can deliver us, and free us from all that we may experience in our earthly bodies.

Healing Through Faith

Mark 5:21-34

The Bible story of the woman with the issue of blood is one that has inspired many to hold fast to their faith in God, even for their own healing. Suffering with a blood issue for twelve long years, had caused the woman much misery, pain, and grief. What made matters worse for her is, she had spent all that she had on different treatments from physicians. Not only was she miserable and broke, but her issue grew worse. Her cries of help did her no good, until she heard of a man named Jesus, who just so happened to be in close proximity to her one day.

While continuing in His ministry of teaching and healing, Jesus made His way to the other side of the country of the Gadarenes. Mere moments after leaving the ship on which He traveled, Jesus found Himself surrounded by crowds of people. Before He could settle Himself off the ship, Jesus was approached by one of the rulers of the synagogue, who asked for His help to heal his daughter, who was at the point of death. Jesus agreed, then began following the man to his residence.

While on the way to heal the daughter of Jarius, the woman with the issue of blood, heard about Jesus, then fought her way to just touch His garment. Her faith grabbed hold to what she heard about Jesus, and she was certain that her healing would come, from just one touch. After she touched the Savior’s garment, “straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.” (vs. 29).

The woman could have easily ignored what she had heard about Jesus and continued in her issue, but after going through years of pain and disappointment, she literally had nothing else to lose.

What have you heard about Jesus, that excites you to the point you’re willing to go the extra mile to see Him? Do you truly understand who God really is? Or, have you not heard how He healed the sick, raised the dead, opened blind eyes and deaf ears, redeemed mankind from sin, prepared a place beyond this life for the Saints to live forever.

You may be dealing with an issue that seems to have no answer, but continue reaching out toward Jesus, and if your healing doesn’t come in this life, be strong and keep the faith, because God has much better awaiting us when we meet Him face to face.

One day like one thousand years

2 Peter 3:8-10

One thing many people are ignorant of is, God’s timing, and how it is not the same as the time man is confined to. In fact, God resides outside of time, and is not limited, nor affected by it in any way. He is a timeless being, who existed before the beginning of the beginnings. As AMAZING as that sounds, I don’t understand, nor can I explain how that’s possible, but based on the irrefutable evidence I see on a daily basis, I believe every word inspired by Him, and written in the Bible.

Knowing that our time on earth is limited, should provoke every man to seek counsel from the One who exists outside of time. Unfortunately, many are willingly ignorant of this fact, and choose to live as though their end is secure, while living according to their own wills. Time that’s wasted can never be regained, and it’s sad how countless hours a day are spent on actions and habits that do nothing to please God, bring glory to His name, nor strengthen the faith or character of a man. It’s interesting to see a sports team strive hard to win a game, as the time slowly expires; contributing effortless physical and mental exertion to come out victorious. I say this often, and I’ll say it again, “God cares nothing about sports!” The time men spend shooting balls in hoops, kicking balls through goals, or swinging golf clubs from the greens, could be used learning, growing, and spreading the message of the Gospel all around the world.

According to verse ten of our text, “the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up”. Take a moment, and read that verse again. Go ahead, I’ll wait……….”the earth also and the works therein shall be burned up”. All the amazing buildings, monuments, stadiums, homes, cars, attractions, amusement parks, malls, and every Walmart, will be destroyed, on the day of the Lord. If reading this verse frightens you a little, good. It’s intent is to make you aware that our existence on this planet is temporary, and God has a better place prepared for us, after this life. So, why do men invest so much precious time in things that will someday be an afterthought? God doesn’t need time, we do, so it’s time that we learn to appreciate the time we’re given, and spend it wisely, because when it’s gone, judgment awaits.

After studying this lesson, I recommend everyone to invest your time doing things that bring pleasure to God. For example, instead of hating your enemies, learn to love them, and seek to draw them closer to God, rather than wish evil upon them. If you have lingering issues with a brother sister, coworker, or friend, release the grudge, forgive them, then try to make up for all the time lost during your time of separation. “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him”. (Colossians 3:15-17 KJV).

Walk in love,

Ell