The Touch of Faith

In the miracle of Jesus healing the woman with the issue of blood, we see that though a great multitude was thronging the Lord, the power to heal was released from Him to only one person.  “But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” (Luke 8:46).

For twelve years, this woman was not even allowed to appear in public, but she decided to take a huge risk. As Jesus continued walking, she came from behind, ended up touching the border of Jesus’ garment, and immediately was healed and the outflow of blood stopped.

What was so special about her touch, which made Jesus to stop and inquire who touched Him?  Even, Jesus’ own disciples wondered what the logic was behind His inquiry.  That touch was definitely different, as it caused the power of God to flow out from the Lord!

As this lady identified herself, Jesus spoke to her and said: “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well.  Go in peace.”  Hence, underneath that touch there was a heart of faith!

We read her confession of faith in Mark 5:28, “For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”  What a powerful confession out of strong faith!

The Bible says, God shows no partiality and He is no respecter of persons. If Jesus was a respecter of persons, then He would’ve first found out who touched Him prior to His healing virtue flowing out to her.

So then the fact that the power was automatically released from Jesus teaches us that if anyone, including you and me, have the faith that touches the Lord, His power will flow.  We will be able to receive and experience the same results!  How amazing is that!!

Let’s make sure that our faith is active everyday, for we also read, “so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;” (Acts 17:27).

Since He is near to us, let us reach out in faith and touch Him, so we can also hear Him say to us “Be of good cheer; your faith has made you well.  Go in peace”!

This Too Shall Pass

This Too Shall Pass

“For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18b).

In the above scripture, Apostle Paul encourages us not to lose heart looking at the present afflictions that are temporary and reminds us of things which are not seen that are eternal.

There is a story about an emperor who asked his council of wise men for a quote that would be accurate and appropriate at all times and in all circumstances.  After a lot of contemplation, they came up with the phrase: “ This too shall pass”.

It is a great reminder of the temporary nature of our situations, that we don’t need to be affected by what’s happening around us.  Though we all like to have the phrase not to be true during the good times, it seems to explain the temporal nature of earthly pleasures.

However, many times we forget the applicability of the phrase during desperate times.  When we face the realities of life, we can easily give into the thinking that the unhappy times are permanent and we feel that it will remain that way forever.  If only we could remember then that the unpleasant times will also pass away soon!

Jesus said:

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34).

It’s encouraging that the troubled days will pass away soon.  Since all the temporal things around us are supposed to be passing away, let’s have our anchor strongly fixed in the eternal and everlasting Heavenly Father who did not even hesitate to give His own beloved Son because of His love and care for us!  May His comfort fill your heart today and you can calmly look at your circumstances and remember, This too shall pass!

Believe!

Some say “seeing is believing”, while others say “it is in believing you shall see”.  People have been debating over this for many years and generations, trying to find the correlation between seeing and believing.

Bible says, if you can believe even when you haven’t seen yet you are blessed.

Virgin Mary had to make a choice to believe when the angel came and spoke to her about the birth of Jesus.

“Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” (Luke 1:45, NKJV)

In the natural it was an impossible scenario. I wonder, how much faith Mary had to muster up to make that choice to believe.

Sometimes we find ourselves having to take a giant leap of faith in believing long before seeing certain things coming to pass, especially, if that’s something God has promised us.  It is much easier said than done, but when we are really in such situations, we must take to our hearts, reminders from God’s Word, our own past experiences of God’s faithfulness, as well as inspirations from others around us and in history.

We know that the Lord Jesus, before His crucifixion, had promised His resurrection to His disciples on several occasions.  After it actually took place, and initially when He appeared to them, Thomas was not present. When his fellow disciples shared the news to Thomas, he refused to believe unless he sees the nail print on Jesus’ hands and put his finger through.

How loving and compassionate is our Lord.  Next time He appeared to them again when Thomas was also present, providing him an opportunity to see and believe.  “Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20: 29, NKJV)

Though we can certainly identify with Apostle Thomas in this matter repeatedly (seeing is believing), I pray that God would grant us grace upon grace so that like Mary (in believing you shall see), we would have giant leaps of faith in all circumstances, because it is more blessed. I encourage you to make that choice to believe FOR there will be a sure fulfillment of the things that the Lord has spoken to you!

Stay blessed!

Blessed!

“Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it;

Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman stays awake in vain.” -- Psalm 127:1 (NKJV)

We all need God’s blessings upon us and our endeavors.  Even with all our well-intentioned, hard work and human effort, all of it amount to nothing unless the Lord is in it.  The blessing of the Lord adds the very thing that is needed in any area of our life.

The first thing God did after creating Adam and Eve is to bless them.

The fathers and saints in the Bible before their departure from the earth always gathered their children or followers to proclaim a blessing upon them.

The priests in the Old Testament after offering the sacrifices on behalf of the people, came out of the Holy Place and blessed the congregation of Israel.

It is God’s heart to bless us. Though man disobeyed Him, and sin entered the world bringing curses with it, God made a plan in Jesus Christ to redeem the mankind to bring His blessings upon them.

The first word that came out of Jesus’ mouth in addressing the multitude who came to hear Him at the sermon on the Mount was “Blessed”. Jesus proclaimed the blessed state of the believers.

Unlike the religious leaders of that time who overlooked the heart condition by placing over importance on the outward appearances based on the Law, Jesus clearly contrasted that by declaring, “Blessed are the poor in spirit…”.  And we see multiple times in the same passage in Matthew 5, the word, “Blessed”

Also the last thing Jesus did, while ascending to heaven was lifting up His hands and blessing the disciples.  “And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.” (Luke 24: 50b-51; NKJV)

God’s heart was and is and always will be to bless you and see you blessed.  Let’s pray for His will to be done in our lives as it is in Heaven.  He sees your heart, your genuine seeking after Him and declares “You are blessed” and as a matter of fact, He has already done it through our Lord Jesus Christ, yes indeed you are BLESSED!

Always and Forever!

Everyone longs for the presence of someone they love, especially, if they have been away for a while. The presence of our loved ones mean a lot to us in many ways.  It brings a feeling of warmth, joy, love, excitement and a sense of belonging!

After being with His disciples ministering together for three and a half years, Jesus prepares them for His bodily departure in John 14.  He assures them of His return, and that He will come back to take them to be with Him.  He also says in John 14:18, “I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.”

Again Jesus, after His resurrection reassures us in the great commission: “..lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28: 20b).  Yes, one day He will be back, but in the meanwhile when we are still here on earth, He promises to be always with us!

We know that God is omnipresent, so He is everywhere.  However, that’s not the kind of presence that Jesus is promising to His disciples here.  The general presence is for everyone, but His promised presence mentioned here guarantees a lot more.  The latter  involves relationship, support, care, provision, help, favor and so much more!

Adam and Eve had the privilege of enjoying daily communion with God.  It is for that purpose they were created, which they lost due to the original sin.  The finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ fully restores back to us the opportunity to have that fellowship again!  We are never alone, God is always with us in our daily walks!  He will never walk out no matter who walks out on you.

Imagine the difference in the countenance of a child who was afraid to go into a dark room, and then he or she gets to hold a parent’s hand?  There will be great courage and confidence instead of fear.  Now how much more courage and confidence we need to have, knowing that the creator of the world who has authority over all heavens and earth is walking with us.  Yes, you too can be assured of the fact that the Lord God Almighty is holding your hands, and when facing challenges, difficulties and dilemmas, He still would not let go!  He promises He will be there for you and with you, and He will never leave you, nor forsake you!

King David says, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil;  For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4, NKJV)

Let us not ignore and lose track of Him who is always with us but rather celebrate His presence, by talking with Him, praising Him, and walking in the confidence that He is with you Always and Forever!

Come to Jesus!

“And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” -- John 6:35 (NKJV)

Man’s primary physical need after air is of course water and food. All his toil and sweat primarily comes down to feeding His appetite. Food is so important to man that Bible says “ To show partiality is not good, Because for a piece of bread a man will transgress” -- Proverbs 28:21 (NKJV)

Also we know the example of Esau, who is described in Hebrews 12, as a fornicator or profane person, “who for one morsel of food sold his birthright.”

Here in John 6, we see after feeding five thousand people by the miracle of multiplication, Jesus went to the other side of the sea without people noticing. The following day they came seeking for Jesus and found Him on the other side. And Jesus states that the reason for their pursuit after Him was because they ate the loaves and were filled.

So we see Jesus, understanding man’s essential need, satisfied it with a miracle showing his love, compassion and care. At the same time He revealed a much important factor to those who came seeking after Him by taking their attention away from the natural food, though that was their initial motive.  Then He brings their focus to something more vital than food that perishes, to something that which they need to labor for.  It is the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give.

Hence Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.”  He is still faithful to reveal His heart to those who seek after Him even today!

Isn’t it a good thing that all the work that you need to do in this process of getting the bread of life is to simply bring yourself to Him.  Let’s have our focus straight before time runs out and it’s too late to find out that all our labor was just for perishable things.

As we eat of this bread of life,  not only that the hunger of our soul is taken away but we find eternal satisfaction.  Let’s not forget the vital thing that we need for the sustenance of our being. His invitation today also is the same, COME TO HIM!