During my bible study this morning I was reading through a familiar testimonial recorded by one of Jesus’ disciples. Luke chronicles the story of a woman who were struggling with a medical issue for twelve years and were yet to find a cure. The woman finds out Jesus is in town and forces her way through the crowd to get close to Him. The woman then touches the edge of Jesus’ garment and receives healing. It is a miracle, but that is not what resonated with my spirit as much this morning as the conversation that followed.
Jesus asked, “Who touched me?” His disciples, not wanting to embarrass their master I am sure, sheepishly points out that Jesus is surrounded by a crowd. Lots of people are making contact with Jesus and brushing up against him. Jesus responds assertively that someone touched him and at the same time explains what He regards as ‘touching’ Him. “…I perceive that power has gone out from me..”, Jesus affirms.
Many were brushing up against Jesus and were in His immediate presence but only one ‘touched’ Him.
And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. – Luke 8:45-47
Jesus then used the situation as a teaching moment, indicating the woman ‘touched him’ because of her faith.
And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” – Luke 8:48
Faith is a requirement to touch Jesus, as per His definition. God repeatedly states in His word that He requires faith from us in our relationship with Him.
If you feel that you will never have enough faith to overcome the challenges that you are facing right now or the ones that may lurk in the future – you are not alone. It is part of every person’s journey, but God never asks for something that He will not help you to achieve.
God does not ask us to have faith, in our own faith. He asks us to have faith in Him. God asks us to trust in Jesus who is the perfecter of our faith. (Heb. 12:2)
When Jesus and His disciples were caught up in a windstorm on the lake, they did not try to save the situation in their own strength because it was beyond them. The disciples cried out to Jesus for help. They reached out to Him, He did something so amazing that they could not believe it. Something that they would have never envisioned. According to Jesus they lacked faith, but they reached out to Him in desperation. They had faith in Jesus.
We need to take care not to misplace our faith and should focus on trusting in our savior Jesus regardless.
And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?”And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” Luke 8:23-25
Jesus is the Son of God to whom all authority is given in heaven and earth. He gave His life willfully to save ours so that we can live in His kingdom forever. We can have full confidence that God will make all things work out for good for those who love Him. God is sovereign and His journey for our lives may not go along the road that we have envisioned or may have many scary giants along the road. God’s love however is undeniable and personified in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. He has our best interest at heart pertaining to our eternal lives which started the day we confessed with our mouths and believed with our hearts, that Jesus is Lord.
By the power of the Holy Spirit we can place our trust in Jesus and be freed from fear, allowing us to truly live.
Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. – Luke 7:47-48
I pray that God will bless you and keep you, especially if you face uncertain times. Keep the faith in Jesus and run the race to completion..
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