“And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His garment, for she said to herself, ‘If I only touch His garment, I will be made well.’ Jesus turned, and seeing her He said, ‘Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.’ And instantly the woman was made well.” Matthew 9:20-22
Devotional Thought For The Day
For all of the accounts of Jesus’ miracles – healing people, controlling nature, raising people from death – the vast majority of people living at that time continued to struggle with the common woes and troubles of life. Many remained sick, many died during the time of Jesus’ earthly ministry, there were accidents, some lost fortunes, wicked and hurtful things were said and done between spouses, children disobeyed and sassed their parents. Yet in the miracles that Jesus did perform we are given a glimpse at what could be, and at what the future holds for those who put their faith and trust in Jesus. We have our own difficulties and troubles, and we yearn for help and healing from God, and it will come in His time and according to His will. But we will also have to endure what is ordained for us – including accidents, illnesses, aging, and finally physical death. But the promise of God is that He will make it all right again for us, even as Jesus healed this woman.
The statement of Jesus is poignant: “Take heart, daughter, your faith has made you well.” Remember that Jesus was fairly young, in His early thirties. Yet He is also the Ancient of Days [Dan. 7], the eternal God, and truly all human beings are His children. He communicates that it was not the touch of His garment that made her well, but rather her faith. It is not the means of healing that produces the healing, but the One Who has power to heal – and faith embraces Him; her faith was in God, in Jesus [Jn. 14:1]. We are invited to the same faith and trust in God and in Jesus, and through faith He also makes us “well.” Not everything is healed immediately, and even for this woman, only her discharge of blood was “made well” instantly; but for those who have faith everything is being made well, for “he that believes the Son has everlasting life.” [Jn. 3:36] In His miracles He makes clear to us His good and gracious will for all people, His power to heal us and make us well, and His love for us – His sons and daughters.
Obviously we have far less power and authority than Jesus. Still, He bids us do as He has done – to do the good that we can in the circumstances we find ourselves in. In doing this, we actually reflect Him, His nature and character, to those around us. It is hard to calculate the privilege and honor of being able to do this. And if all of the 2 billion people who claim Christian faith were to devote themselves daily to just this, doing what good they can at any given moment, the world would be a remarkably better place. And in spite of our many failures in this regard, the actual good that is done by Christians is a wondrously powerful asset for the good of the world. We are often blinded to this, and absorbed in looking at all that is wrong in the world, so that we think evil is winning. This is a shame, especially since such pessimism saps our energy for good and presses us to weak resignation. It is true that we cannot do everything, cannot make everything right and well, but it is also true that we can do something good no matter what our circumstances. This is the final outcome of the love of God in the world, and those with faith in God’s love are part of this renewing process.
For our failures in this, we need turn to God for forgiveness and cleansing. It is not as if He didn’t already know, and it is not as if Jesus hadn’t already suffered for these sins. In our coming to Jesus in confession we are greeted and welcomed with the assurance of His gracious forgiveness, mercy, and steadfast love. The longer we spend focused upon His love, the more we are changed and compelled to love others. This too is obviously the will of God, His greatest and highest will for us, for “God is love.” In time our hearts will be one with His, and even now we long for the final and complete healing that will be ours when we see Him as He is. [1 Jn. 3:2] And this is a healing and wellness in and of itself. So let us take time to repent, confess, and spend time immersed in Jesus’ love, for there is “healing in His wings.” [Mal. 4:2] This is the life of the church, and we can never get enough of it! God bless you richly this weekend!
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, forgive us for allowing thoughts of what we cannot possibly do to keep us from doing the good that we can do. Forgive us for allowing pessimism and doubts to rob us of the eagerness to love and care for others. Forgive us also for our resistance to repentance and renewal, Your healing. Keep us firmly focused on Your love for us, that we draw nearer to You and become more like You. Amen.