Passage of the Day:
And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. 30 At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ” 32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering,” Mark 5:25-34.
Reflection:
There was a belief in the first century that cloaks or robes of Jewish Rabbis possessed special healing powers. If you’re broke like the woman in today’s passage, you have nothing to lose. When doctors made her bleeding condition worse, she became vulnerable, doing or trying anything to be healed. Subsequently, all this woman wanted was to just touch Jesus’ clothes. Despite the large crowds pressing upon Him, Jesus knew that power had been released out of His body to a person in the crowd. Rather than be happy for this woman, Jesus wanted to set the record straight. This woman wasn’t healed by merely touching part of Jesus’ robe. Nor was she healed by chance. Jesus made sure the proper perspective was clarified; she was healed by her faith.
Prayerful Action:
When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.21 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. 22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer,” Matthew 21:20-22.
Renewing Your Mind:
Doubt is one of the main contributors for Christians not experiencing Jesus’ promise of an abundant life, John 10:10. If the Devil came to steal, kill and destroy the aspirations, dreams, and goals of Christians, you have to overcome ungodly beliefs planted in your thoughts over the course of your life. If it only took one conversation to change Eve’s mind in Genesis 3:1-6, you have to be prepared for similar battles, 1 Peter 5:8. As human minds are renewed by studying the Bible in 2024, you’re on the way to developing a proper biblical perspective, Romans 12:2.
Song of the Day:
Final Thoughts:
The attached song is one of the most powerful on this topic. As Christians learn to lean on and trust in God, Proverbs 3:5-6, a spiritual perspective will be conceived in your mind. When you are at your weakest point in life, this opens the door for Jesus to be strong, 2 Corinthians 12:6-10. As you develop this spiritual perspective, be content with what you receive, Philippians 4:11-13.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 