There will always be unbelieving people in our lives who will go to great links to bring God down to a size they can manage as unbelievers so they can dispute the Truth of who He is and what He can do. It hurts worse when these people are close family members and friends because you love them so much.But know, always, that the real enemy in this life is Satan who is whispering lies in the ears of unbelievers he has bound to himself so they will become part of his army as harassers of Truth in order to discredit God who through him out of heaven. Jesus, Son of God, fought evil at every turn in his ministry and mission. So shall we.
Matthew shows the power of God in Jesus in our passage today. Jesus raises the daughter of a synagogue leader from death to life…as the mourners laughed at him.
On the way to this healing, a woman of great faith comes to Jesus from isolation because of her illness, risks public humiliation, and reaches out from the following crowd just to touch the hem of Jesus’ cloak. She bends down low…”If only I touch…”
In our world of fake news, unbelief, mistrust, lies and deception, our lesson for today, as believers and followers of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, is what He told the woman bent low before Him, “Take heart…your faith has healed you.” Our faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord of our lives will lift us up in tough times and carry us to higher ground thinking and behaving.
Take heart when others mock the Truth that lives in you. Take heart when the virus hits your family with a vengeance. Take heart when finances are tight. Take heart when life is just not what you planned. If only we can get close enough to touch a part of Jesus…
Take heart. Bow down to Jesus, just to touch the hem of his garment. Rise up to faith-filled life from our bowed, humbled repentant position. Take his outstretched hand and be lifted to gaze upon His Holy Presence! Therein lies our strength and our song in the night.
Take heart right now as you read this. Imagine Jesus taking your hand and lifting you up from a place of death to new life in Him.
Take heart. When we do we discover “The Lord of Angel Armies is always on our side.”
Take heart.
Matthew 9
Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman
18 While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.
20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”
22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.
23 When Jesus entered the synagogue leader’s house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes, 24 he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. 25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. 26 News of this spread through all that region.
TAKE HEART…“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” –Jesus
(John 16:33)
Take heart.
In Jesus Name, Amen
And we’re singing…(Whom Shall I Fear” by Chris Tomlin)
You hear me when I callYou are my morning song
Though darkness fills the night
It cannot hide the light
Whom shall I fear
You crush the enemy
Underneath my feet
You are my sword and shield
Though troubles linger still
Whom shall I fear
I know who goes before me
I know who stands behind
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side
The one who reigns forever
He is a friend of mine
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side
My strength is in your nameFor you alone can save
You will deliver me
Yours is the victory
Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear
I know who goes before me
I know who stands behind
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side
The one who reigns forever
He is a friend of mine
The God of angel armies
Is always by my side…
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 