Caught

10.30.2009

Mark 5:34 34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.” New American Standard Bible

I wonder how many people would like to hear the words, “[Child,] your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.” I wonder how many have woken up this day and longed to be freed from whatever it is that is bothering, afflicting, or tormenting them. The woman in Mark 5 had been dealing with her affliction for t w e l v e y e a r s. That’s a loooong time.

But she was (we like this word in modern progressive American society) proactive; she made the attempt to do something about her condition by approaching the One whom she thought was a prophet. Her mindset was something along the line of, “If He can’t do it… nobody can.” So she went and she touched and she was healed and she got caught. (Memo to self, don’t ever (even in faith) try to sneak up on God…) She got caught and she had to confess what she did. You see, she was unclean and according to their law, she wasn’t even supposed to be out and about. She was an outcast, a pariah, and she was breaking their precious law that did nothing to help her with a condition that oppressed her, stressed her, and refused to go away… she had to come clean about being unclean. What will your circumstances drive you to do?

But here is what got her off the hook with God: her faith. Hebrews 11.6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” (NASB) God rewarded her faith and He rewards mine – every time. Faith, is believing that only God can help me when no one else can. Faith is risking it all on what God has promised. Faith is going to the point of possible extreme public humiliation just to hear God say, “Atta girl! Your faith has made you well!” Like the woman, I’m gonna walk in faith today and listen for God’s pleasure as I do.

Father in Heaven,

You allow our circumstances because they can build our faith. You aren’t mean-spirited or harsh, You just want us to know that no one else can truly help us. I learn from this lesson today to be like the woman, to ignore my circumstances and keep sneaking in to touch Your garments because there I find my healing and there my faith in You makes me well. Thank You God! Amen.