Week 2 Introduction: Exercise your faith

 

 

 

Luke 8:40-48

 

 

 

“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV).

 

Jairus, a ruler of the Synagogue, had a twelve-year-old daughter who was on her deathbed. He sought Jesus for help. As Jairus escorted Him to his house among the thronging multitudes, Jesus stopped. “Who touched Me?” No one spoke up. “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” Then a trembling woman fell before Him and confessed that she had been healed the instant she had touched the hem of His garment. He responded, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” (Luke 8:45-48)

Why would this woman’s faith be significant? In the culture of that day, she was considered unclean because of her hemorrhage. For twelve years she had suffered, having spent all her money on physicians who couldn’t help her. Such conditions forbade her mingling among the crowds, so she kept a low profile, hoping she wouldn’t be noticed. But her faith drove her on. She knew that if she could just touch the lowest edge of the tassels on Jesus’s prayer shawl, she would be healed. Getting to Him was her only hope.

Why had she hesitated to come forward when He asked who had touched Him? Most likely, she had never expected Him to know what she’d done. For an unclean woman to touch a holy Teacher was unthinkable. She was caught, and she trembled at how He might respond. She must have been shocked when Jesus addressed her with words of kindness and love instead of harsh rebuke. “Daughter, be of good cheer. Your faith has made you well. Go in peace” (Luke 8:48).

During this initial month of the New Year, let’s intentionally exercise our faith to attain spiritual health.

As sinners, we all are “unclean” until we “grab hold” of Jesus and accept His salvation. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

But Jesus cleanses our spirits with His blood shed at Calvary, and His resurrection sealed our eternity with Him in heaven. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

Let’s also exercise our faith to receive healing from sickness and disease.

We all suffer from occasional sickness. Or perhaps you’ve been diagnosed with a malady that modern medicine can’t heal. Have you ever used your faith to press into our Great Physician? Let’s take this week to stretch our faith and reach out for the hem of His garment.

What are you asking the Lord to do for you today?

If you’re praying for healing, or if you’ve been healed in the past, would you encourage us with your testimony?

Dear Lord, take our measure of faith and stretch it this week. May we believe for physical healing and gratefully receive it according to your perfect will. In Jesus’s Name. Amen.

Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much ~ James 5:16.