ESOCS Devotional 24 July 2022
TEXT: LUKE 8:40-56
MEMORY VERSE: “And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.” Luke 8: 48 KJV
0 And the apostles, when they had returned, told Him all that they had done. Then He took them and went aside privately into a deserted place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing. 12 When the day began to wear away, the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding towns and country, and lodge and get provisions; for we are in a deserted lace ”
Here is a story of faith often celebrated. Jesus was on His way to heal a man’s daughter who eventually died. In the midst of the crowd, a woman with an illness found Jesus. She had heard of His ability to heal the sick. And this was an opportune time for her to act upon what she had heard. She had an issue of blood.
This made her unclean according to Leviticus 15:25-30. This had gone on for twelve years. She was looking for a cure. She sought physicians of the day. She had suffered under them. She had spent all of her money to find a cure (v 43). She had not improved; rather, she had grown worse.
Her condition reminds us of another condition. Not a physical one, but a spiritual one. Man has a spiritual problem – sin. (Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23). This problem separates us from God (Isaiah 59:2). Man’s sin problem can also last for years and years if it goes untreated. We need to look for a cure. There is no “physician of the day” that can cure this problem. The religious leaders of the day could not cure this problem (Matthew 5:20). We cannot cure this problem with righteousness of our own (Phil.3:9). No amount of money can cure this problem. Many believe that if they just throw money at the problem of sin, it will go away.
She believed. The reports of Jesus’ power were great. Consider Matthew 4:23-25. We know from Romans 10:17 that faith comes by hearing. Based upon what she had heard, she believed; her faith was not of sight (2 Cor.5:7). She acted upon that belief. The text says, she “came behind him and touched the border of his garment” (v 44). Her faith wasn’t a dead faith, but an active and living faith. By works, her faith was made perfect according (James 2:22).
This reminds us of God’s plan for man’s salvation. We must hear the word of God (Rom. 10:17). We must believe God’s word (Hebrews 11:6). We must then act upon that faith by repenting of sin (Acts 17:30), confessing Jesus as Christ (Romans 10:10) and being baptized for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16).
She received healing. The problem that had plagued her for 12 years was completely gone. Jesus’ asked, “Who touched me?”(v 45). She came before Him in fear and trembling, and acknowledged what she had done. So Jesus said, “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.”
Today, we can have complete assurance that what Jesus says will happen. When we turn to Jesus in loving obedient faith, He will give us the blessing of salvation. And when we follow His plan, we can know it is Jesus that saves and nothing else!
- The time to anchor your hope and faith to Christ is now, before the storms show up.
- Lord, I believe that you died to set me free; therefore, I confess you as my Lord and Savior.
Read Other ESOCS Devotional here
FURTHER READING: Judges 7:1–23; Malachi 4:1–6; Matthew 11:2–19
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ESOCS Devotional 24 July 2022
