Our church started going through the book of Luke chapter by
chapter since our kick-off Sunday in September. My choice in passage comes from
our reading that week and is something that just hit me differently this time.
Scripture: As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost
crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for 12
years, but no one could heal her. She came behind him and touched the edge of
his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and
pressing against you.” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, I know that power
has gone out of me.” Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed,
came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she
told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he
said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
Observation: Crowds are just that, crowded, pushing against
each other. I can imagine myself as the woman, believing so much in this man in
front of me that if I could just touch his coat I’d be healed. He doesn’t need
to see me. I’m not worthy of him. And the moment I touch him, I know in my
heart I am healed and I feel like I may have gotten away with something. Only,
I am stopped by his words. “Who touched me?” To be so full of power that he
could tell that my touch was different from all the others around him. She
bared her soul to him, all the years of sickness and pain. Expecting anger or
disgust because this unclean woman touched this man, making him unclean
according to law, instead she received love and acceptance. He called her
“Daughter”. He saw her, really saw her, as she had always hoped to be seen. She
had so much faith in this stranger, she trusted in him fully. I can imagine
feeling the peace because of his words... whole again…
Application: I have my own issues that I’ve been dealing
with for years: depression, sleep apnea, joint/back pain, and obesity, just to
name a few. I know he can heal me with just a word, just a touch. I need to let
go of my control and let him be in charge. I need to stop depending on man to
fill my needs because man will fall short. I need to trust God and have faith
that he will provide for all my needs: physical, emotional and spiritual.
Prayer: Lord, teach me to have faith like the woman in the
crowd. Show me I can trust in you when mankind has failed me. Help me in my
unbelief.
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