Well, it’s another Sunday morning. “And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, ‘If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.’ Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, ‘Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.'” Matthew 9:20-22 (ESV)
Now that I’m older and I have finally gotten to the point where I have time on my hands, I find myself setting back and think of life and how God has made such an impact on it. I find that I like to sit and remember all the miracles Jesus did during His short time on this rock. I love to think about what it would have been like to follow Him. I think about how the blind man received his sight back after Jesus put mud made from spit and dirt in his eyes, and how the paralyzed man was lowered through the roof and then walked at Jesus’ command. Story after story in the Gospels demonstrate Jesus’ power to heal the sick.
So I’ve ask myself over and over again, How do these miracles happen? What makes them happen still to this day? They happen through faith. Isn’t it funny how a five letter word can have such a huge impact on everything we do.
Faith is one of those words that is difficult to tie down to one simple definition. Understand this, you can say the word “faith” all day long, but if you don’t truly have it, you have wasted your day. So, what do I mean by having it? You can find one answer for this in the definition given in www.dictionary.com. Faith is “belief that does not require proof or evidence.”
A. A. Hodge has a little different thought on that though. He said, “Faith must have adequate evidence, else it is mere superstition.” The truth is, faith is not the polar opposite of either fact or scientific knowledge. The evidences of faith may operate differently than those of science, but that doesn’t mean that it does not exist, it truly does.
Someone else has come up with an acronym for FAITH: Forsaking – All – I – Take – Him. I like that, it’s five small words that size up all of what I have heard and was taught and what I will believe in my entire time on this rock. Here are some verses that will give all the “adequate evidence” needed, I hope you believe the same way.
“And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction.” Matthew 9:35 (ESV)
“Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your bed and walk’ ? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’ he said to the paralytic ‘I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.’ And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, ‘We’ve never saw anything like this!’” Mark 2:9-12 (ESV)
‘”And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.’ When he saw them he said to them, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.” Luke 17:12-16 (ESV)
“Having said these things, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva. Then he anointed the man’s eyes with the mud and said to him, ‘Go, wash in the pool of Siloam’ (which means Sent). So he went and washed and came back seeing.” John 9:6-7 (ESV)
The witnesses of our great LORD’s ability to heal is written all through the Bible. Like I have heard from some really great preachers, if we believe any of the Bible, by FAITH, we must believe that all of it is true and factual. These accounts are there and have been witnessed by many people. I personally believe Jesus did them all.
If you or a loved one is going through a health crisis or any issue, remember that Jesus enters in the midst of all circumstances. Health crisis or any other issue is just another opportunity to draw near to him. When you do it through true faith, he will give you peace that surpasses all human understanding. Also remember through all of this, God truly loves each and every one of you and so do I.
