When Jesus stood in the midst of the crowd and asked who had touched Him, the disciples must have thought He’d lost it. So many people pressed in, yet He wanted to identify just one (Mark 5:31). Eventually, the woman trembled forward with a confession, stunning everyone (Mark 5:33).
Jesus could tell that most of the people were just hoping to get something from him. But this woman didn’t simply want something—she needed Him. Doctors had drained her resources. The nonstop bleeding condemned her to be unclean. Family and friends had to keep away, lest they become contaminated. She couldn’t enter the temple, the center of social and religious life. And not just for a short time—but for 12 years. Worse yet, she was alone. Even lepers had their colonies! Jesus was her final and only hope (Mark 5:26-28). So she touched Him. And He knew it.
How do we “touch” Him? Do we approach God with the understanding that He’s our final and only hope, that apart from Him we’re nothing? Or do we come carelessly, browsing for blessings?
Too often, I find myself simply going through the motions of devotions, prayers, and church attendance. Taken together, these are all good, all part of true faith in Jesus. But He wants more than our practices; He wants our hearts.
In both Isaiah 29:13 and Matthew 15:8, the Scriptures specifically address the problem of making a verbal show of faith without a true heart commitment. Jesus can still tell a touch from a touch. He sees past the façade to what lies beneath. To those who choose to remain on the outskirts of the throng, He said plainly that they would hear these words at the end—“I never knew you. Get away from me” (Matthew 7:23). Let’s seek Him and His loving touch today.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Acts 7:30-60
More:
Read Matthew 7:21-23 and 15:1-16 for Jesus’ words to superficial followers.
Next:
Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus? How can you tell whether you’re truly loving Him with all your heart or if you’re still on the outskirts looking in?
Gary Shultz on October 17, 2016 at 6:38 am
A lot of interesting thought Remi. Often as you say we do find our selves going through the motions. I’m not campaigning for complacency; however, at least for me, not every moment is going to be a desperate grab of Christ’s robe nor can it be. But, your point is well taken, even in those regular times, maybe even when we are not in “desperate” mode we shouldn’t be standing on the outside of the crowd, we shouldn’t just be bumping into Jesus, we should have a live link to His Spirit. I’m glad the Spirit was given to make that communication without ceasing possible. I think we must recognize that we have times during each day and throughout life that we are totally engaged in activities other than prayer or speaking to God. Some activities require our total conservative effort. At least for me it’s where I allow my thoughts to go in those disengaged times. Is Jesus my place of attraction and attention? Thanks Remi
remioyedele2015 on October 17, 2016 at 9:32 am
Hello Gary,
I think we all struggle with striking that perfect balance, so that we’re not so heavenly minded, we do no earthly good. Interestingly enough, I’ve begun to realize that even walking that line requires God’s help so that we know what should have our attention at any moment. I suppose that is what it means to allow Him to order our steps and direct our paths. May we all get there in Jesus Name.
Be blessed,
Remi
tim gustafson on October 17, 2016 at 7:20 am
Remi, this one really got me. “Do we come carelessly, browsing for blessings?” And “Jesus can tell a touch from a TOUCH.” Yeah, am I really pursuing Him today? Thanks for this challenge.
remioyedele2015 on October 17, 2016 at 9:38 am
Thank you, Tim – I think the danger is we may not even know we’re doing it; there’s an absent mindedness that accompanies carelessness in our walk with God. It seems to me that the key is to be intentional about approaching Him.
Be blessed,
Remi
godlove on October 17, 2016 at 7:28 am
“Do we come carelessly, browsing for blessings?” – I like that expression, which unfortunately would accurately characterise many of us Christians today. I, too, am guilty of having periods when I dutifully and almost mechanically “go through the motions” of spirituality which is clearly not what Jesus expects from us. I think in this world it’s difficult to be always hot and devoted round the clock and round the year (at such times going through the motions keeps us from sliding away from the faith and helps to keep us grounded in Christ), however it’s very important that we don’t let ourselves settle into this lukewarm territory where we might easily start feeling comfortable and end up falling on the wrong side of the wall. May the Spirit fill our hearts entirely so that we may be full-heartedly devoted to Christ at all times and all the time. Thanks for this thought provoking devotional today Remi. Blessed week to you and to all.
remioyedele2015 on October 17, 2016 at 9:41 am
Thank you so much, godlove – you’re absolutely right! There are seasons where ‘going through the motions, is necessary to keep us going, but the temptation to settle there is very great, and we must resist with everything God has given us by the power of His spirit.
Be blessed,
Remi
gagirllive on October 17, 2016 at 7:42 am
Hi, Remi. Good word for us today. This woman’s condition is a perfect picture of all of us before we came to saving faith in Christ. When we realized our desperate spiritual condition, we reached out in desperate faith to Jesus—the only One who could heal our sin-sick soul. She received power (interestingly, same word as used in Acts 1: 8) from Jesus when she touched Him in faith. And so do we. The same power that saved us, keeps us and sustains us day after day to follow after God. He still responds to faith—no matter how weak or small. Our walk with Christ is not based on our emotions; it is rooted in faith. Often times when emotions fall flat, we drop the “e” and say we’re “going through the motions”. When that happens to me, I purpose to continue to do the things I should with the prayer that my feelings will catch up to my obedience. Inevitably, they always do. Another thing that helps is to give ourselves the gospel everyday. When we tell God (and remind ourselves) how much we need Him, it creates that holy desperation in us. Our redemption must never grow cold to us. As an elderly man in my church says, “I got saved and I never got over it.” That’s the kind of red-hot faith I want. Thank you, Remi, for this inspiration today. Grace and peace to you and all my fellow travelers. ♡
remioyedele2015 on October 17, 2016 at 9:53 am
Thank you so much, Gagirl! I love that you specifically mention that you purposely continue doing what you know you should, believing that your feelings will catch up after they may have fallen away. Without purpose in seeking God, we may find ourselves going round in circles and not even realize it. May that not be our story in Jesus Name.
Be blessed,
Remi
gagirllive on October 17, 2016 at 10:17 am
Amen! We are a forgetful people. That’s why we must peach the gospel to ourselves everyday! When we remember our abject poverty before God and the cost of our redemption, it fans into flame the embers that are smoldering in our hearts. Who can look into the loving face of our sweet Jesus and walk away unchanged? 🙂
gagirllive on October 17, 2016 at 10:20 am
*preach, not peach. ( An understandable slip-up from this Georgia girl. 🙂 )
sandy229 on October 17, 2016 at 1:25 pm
I really like your comments GAgirl. We need holy desperation in us daily. Where the elderly man said, “I got saved and I never got over it.” That is just so priceless! I will have to remember that one. I really thank Remi for her good words for today also 🙂
Shalom
youssef1777 on October 17, 2016 at 9:27 am
THIS LADY WAS SO BRAVE AND HAD STRONG FAITH TO TOUCH OUR BLESSING LORD SEEK HEALING . WE SHOULD HAVE FAITH EVEN IN OUR VERY DARK IN OUR LIFE . SEEK GOD WILL HELP .
remioyedele2015 on October 17, 2016 at 9:54 am
Amen, Youssef!! God responds to our faith!
Be blessed,
Remi
kauai143 on October 17, 2016 at 9:34 am
Remi, because of difficult circumstances, I live in constant need of Jesus. But even so, at times I can be merely going through the motions and become numb to His healing touch. Thank you for this beautifully written devotion.
remioyedele2015 on October 17, 2016 at 9:57 am
Thank you very much, Kauai; I pray that God will remove all numbness from our relationship with Him and fire us up with His divine, transforming touch in Jesus Name.
Be blessed,
Remi
sandy229 on October 17, 2016 at 12:00 pm
Amen Remi 🙂
sim jing ying on October 17, 2016 at 10:59 am
I do have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. When you relate everything to Jesus Christ, that shows that you’re loving Him with all your heart.
sandy229 on October 17, 2016 at 12:28 pm
Mark 5:24-34…..Talk about Divine Healing….This passage relates the account of a desperate woman whose healing was the result of great and persistent faith. Even though her illness made her ceremonially unclean and disqualified her for mixing with crowds of people, she was certain that “if I can just touch His robe, I will be healed” v28. Jesus did not rebuke her, but delayed His mission to the home of Jairus, whose daughter was dying, in order to assure this woman of healing and salvation. Later Jesus raised Jairus’s daughter from the dead, but here He took the time to minister to the one with positive faith. That such persistence is rewarded is not to suggest healing or any other work of God is earned by human effort. Rather it illustrates the need to be bold in what we believe– and not be deterred by circumstances or be discouraged by others. “Anything is possible if a person believes”, Mark 9:23; and they are all by God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8,9)
Have a Shalom day friends.
sandy229 on October 17, 2016 at 12:31 pm
Good word for today Remi! Thank you for another great devo!
gagirllive on October 17, 2016 at 1:20 pm
Sandy, I’m sure today’s devo was especially encouraging to you. Praying for your continued healing, friend. Shalom, Shalom (perfect peace) to you! 🙂
sandy229 on October 17, 2016 at 1:38 pm
Yes, it was! Thank you for your prayers. You know there was something I was feeling guilty about……it was that I was online shopping for cold weather boots instead of spending time on my devotion with Jesus…..it’s like I always know right away, (well sometimes not so soon), but it’s something I have been struggling with, then I try to justify it, but that never seems to work cuz I know that I was wrong. It’s not like I don’t already have winter boots for the snow, but living in the desert, I don’t need them too often unless it snows a lot, but what I was going to say before I so rudely interrupted myself is that, there is this homeless girl that has been on my mind lately and I thought about how she probably doesn’t have very many shoes, so God told me I should give them to her, and when I saw her yesterday I asked her what size she wore, and it was the exact same size I have so I decided she needs them more than I do, and this is going to be good for me to do so I don’t think about myself so much. I need to share with others what they need. I am also going to give her some sweaters and other clothes that will help her. I sense that she is very humble just by talking to her, and she’s not like other homeless people, she is different somehow in the way that she never asks for anything….one time she was holding a sign that said she was hungry….but that was the only time I ever saw her ask for anything. Yes, I am telling you this because I do feel so guilty about buying things for myself that I don’t really need, but would be nice to have, so I have to do this. And I have some little books from the Discovery Series, I am also going to give to her, and put some money between the pages.
gagirllive on October 17, 2016 at 1:53 pm
Praise God for the Spirit’s leading in your heart and life, Sandy! So often we say we ought to do this and that when the Spirit puts things on our hearts, but very seldom do we follow through. This will be such a lovely act of kindness to show this woman that Jesus sees her and cares deeply about her. The love of Christ in us is supposed to compel us to look outward and offer to others the extravagant grace, love, and mercy that we’ve been given. Don’t feel guilty about enjoying the blessings God has given you. Just don’t let them stop with you. Pass it on. You can never out-give God. You were blessed to be a blessing! ♡
minkjh on October 17, 2016 at 2:38 pm
I like your concept of ‘going through the motions’, Remi. Definitely a wake-up call with plenty of opportunity for personal introspection about how I approach the throne of grace. Do I have religion or a relationship? Do I worship in habitual ritual or in spirit and in truth? Do I value the social experience over the sacred? Many years ago an AME clergyman from our city had this to say about holy desperation- “There ain’t no desperation if there ain’t no perspiration”. Case confirmed with the story from Mark’s gospel, but does my thirst for Him mirror that woman’s?