A Touch of His Grace

Some people impact you in ways that others can’t. I’m not sure what it is. Perhaps it’s your season of life, or perhaps it’s just the nature of that person.

Very few people have affected me like the woman with a discharge of blood in Luke 8:40-48.

I don’t even know her name. Her story is squeezed between the demon of Gadara and the raising of Jairus’ daughter from the dead. I almost missed her the first few times I read through the Bible.

But her story lives through the ages. Her story continues to shout: “listen to me, pay attention to every detail, for in my story is the answer to your questions”.

Here are the lessons she reminded me of again today. Maybe you need to be reminded of them as well:

1. It’s never too late to be healed. Twelve years she suffered with her illness. Twelve years of pain, of walking in and out of doctors’ offices, twelve years of spending every nickel and dime she had. Anyone else would have given up. But on one busy day in Galilee she figured she had nothing to lose. On one busy day in Galilee the woman with the discharge of blood was healed. Are you suffering today? Do you have a situation that seems impossible to resolve? Have you given up on finding an answer to the same old problem in your life? You may be just a touch from the savior away. Hang in there.

2. You’re not too unimportant to be noticed. I know it sometimes feels like you are. The world is big, despite the world wide web, and you feel alone. You’re not. The woman figured she’d sneak a healing by Jesus, no one would pay attention, if only she could touch the hem of his robe. But it’s never that easy. You can’t hide with Jesus. He sees your every thought, He knows your every whispered prayer. He loves you. He notices you. Hang in there.

3. Your faith is too important to keep quiet. You probably thought you could keep it to yourself. You weren’t hurting anyone, no one knew you existed to begin with. What’s the harm of keeping quiet? So, you were healed. Big deal. Wait a second. It is a big deal. Jesus Christ has healed you, He’s saved you, He’s alive in you. Get out of the dark. You’re no longer in need of a hiding place. You’re free. Live like you’re free!

4. Jesus is never too busy to care. Even though He has the world on His shoulders. Even though others are dying. He knows you are near. He loves you despite the very thing you detest. He doesn’t care that you’re sick, or mangled, or maimed. He sees every scar, and He loves you the same. Won’t you reach out your arm and touch the edge of his shirt? He loves you completely and won’t turn away.

If you’re desperate today, perhaps you’ve been touched by the woman with the issue of blood. Her story remains a sign of His grace.

I know. I too have been saved.

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