"God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran. SELAH His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of His praise. His brightness was like the light; He had rays flashing from His hand, and there His power was hidden."
(Habakkuk 3:3,4)
I was struggling this morning.
Nothing I could put my finger on, just restless, ill at ease. My body felt very tired and my spirit drained. I was on the verge of tears, but I couldn't fully understand why.
The Lord reminded me of one of my speaking topics, "Drinking From the Fountain of Living Water". Instinctively, I knew I was "thirsty". My spirit was crying out for a drink of Living Water.
I walked to the bedroom and knelt by my bed.
"Jesus, I'm thirsty. I'm overwhelmed. Fill me up with You, Lord. Let me sit at Your feet. Pour Your strength and peace into me. The joy of the Lord is my strength, the glory and the lifter of my head!"
I rested in His Presence, cried a little bit, then rested some more.
He took me to Habakkuk and reminded me of His greatness.
"God came from Teman, the Holy One from Mount Paran." These words reflect
Deuteronomy 33:2 where Moses is remembering the goodness of the Lord: When Israel cried out in the wilderness, God came to them.
When I cried out in my wilderness, God came to me.
SELAH
"And His glory covered the heavens and the earth was full of His praise. His brightness was like the light, He had rays flashing from His hand, and there His power was hidden."
I stretched out my hand toward heaven and the mighty hand of the Father took hold. I felt His power, I experienced His glory. With love, He raised me up out of the miry clay. He shone His Light in the pit of my darkness and extended grace, peace and strength for my journey.
"The Lord is my portion, therefore I hope in Him."
Lord, Praise You! You are so faithful - Your mercy is great. Thank You for meeting me at my point of need. Thank You for Your peace and for Your strength. What would I do without You? Where would I be without my Savior? I love how mighty You are - how glorious! I try to imagine You in all Your splendor, but You are far greater than my imaginings. You are awesome Lord, and yet You know my name.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
I Bow My Knees to the Father
"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height - to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
(Ephesians 3:14-19)
As I was studying this Scripture, I realized there was a progression of faith represented that culminates with "being filled with all the fullness of God."
It begins with prayer, "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father..." I can testify that my faith-walk soared to new heights when I began to daily kneel in prayer. Literally kneel. There is something about kneeling that directly reflects our own recognition of God's authority in our life. It seems that the words of our prayers may be the same, but the spirit behind the words changes.
"I bow my knees before the Father...so that He would grant you...to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man..."
Why?
"...that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;"
Our faith is meant to grow, to develop. God intends for our faith to become mighty by His power - so that Christ might dwell richly in us. When Christ dwells richly in our hearts through faith, we are ROOTED - we are GROUNDED in love.
This is a vital principle in our journey. When we are rooted in LOVE, we are strong. What is, no - WHO is - love? God. When we are rooted in Him, we are strong like the giant oak living by the stream. When the harsh winds blow, that tree ain't going nowhere!! It just bends and sways with the stormy dance. It is not affected by the drought because its roots tap into a constant, steady flow of life-giving water. It is strong and sure. And it offers shade to others who swelter in the noonday sun.
And what is the result of Christ dwelling RICHLY in us?
We know Him.
Yes, we KNOW Him!
We know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge - we comprehend its width and length and depth and height...
How can we KNOW something that surpasses knowledge? Because we know it in our hearts where Christ dwells richly, not with head knowledge. We know it personally, not just because someone told us it was so.
Know. Ginoske (ghin-oce-koe). This means "to recognize and understand the truth by personal experience." This is a whole different ballgame than to understand intellectually. This "knowing" comes by faith and faith by the Word of God.
The knowledge of His love becomes part of who we are. It resonates like a steady drumbeat into the surrounding darkness. This knowledge changes, renews and transforms us - fills us with all the fullness of God. This personal knowledge of His love draws others to Him.
"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father...that He would grant you...to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in Your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love...may know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Line upon line. Precept upon precept. That's how we build a house on a sure foundation.
Father, Thank You for teaching us. We want to know You, Lord...really KNOW You, not just about You. We bow before You and ask that You grant us to be strengthened with might through Your Spirit in the inner man. Lord, we want to be filled with the fullness of Your Holy Spirit. Hear our cry, Father. Draw us to You.
(Ephesians 3:14-19)
As I was studying this Scripture, I realized there was a progression of faith represented that culminates with "being filled with all the fullness of God."
It begins with prayer, "For this reason I bow my knees to the Father..." I can testify that my faith-walk soared to new heights when I began to daily kneel in prayer. Literally kneel. There is something about kneeling that directly reflects our own recognition of God's authority in our life. It seems that the words of our prayers may be the same, but the spirit behind the words changes.
"I bow my knees before the Father...so that He would grant you...to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man..."
Why?
"...that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;"
Our faith is meant to grow, to develop. God intends for our faith to become mighty by His power - so that Christ might dwell richly in us. When Christ dwells richly in our hearts through faith, we are ROOTED - we are GROUNDED in love.
This is a vital principle in our journey. When we are rooted in LOVE, we are strong. What is, no - WHO is - love? God. When we are rooted in Him, we are strong like the giant oak living by the stream. When the harsh winds blow, that tree ain't going nowhere!! It just bends and sways with the stormy dance. It is not affected by the drought because its roots tap into a constant, steady flow of life-giving water. It is strong and sure. And it offers shade to others who swelter in the noonday sun.
And what is the result of Christ dwelling RICHLY in us?
We know Him.
Yes, we KNOW Him!
We know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge - we comprehend its width and length and depth and height...
How can we KNOW something that surpasses knowledge? Because we know it in our hearts where Christ dwells richly, not with head knowledge. We know it personally, not just because someone told us it was so.
Know. Ginoske (ghin-oce-koe). This means "to recognize and understand the truth by personal experience." This is a whole different ballgame than to understand intellectually. This "knowing" comes by faith and faith by the Word of God.
The knowledge of His love becomes part of who we are. It resonates like a steady drumbeat into the surrounding darkness. This knowledge changes, renews and transforms us - fills us with all the fullness of God. This personal knowledge of His love draws others to Him.
"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father...that He would grant you...to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in Your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love...may know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."
Line upon line. Precept upon precept. That's how we build a house on a sure foundation.
Father, Thank You for teaching us. We want to know You, Lord...really KNOW You, not just about You. We bow before You and ask that You grant us to be strengthened with might through Your Spirit in the inner man. Lord, we want to be filled with the fullness of Your Holy Spirit. Hear our cry, Father. Draw us to You.
Monday, August 30, 2010
The Lord, Our Refuge
"The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your Name will put their trust in You; for you, Lord have not forsaken those who seek You."(Psalm 9:6)
These words bring great comfort to me because of the perilous times in which we live. Security as we have known it is no more. Our country is at a crossroads. Unemployment, homelessness and crime are all on the rise. People are without hope; despair has become the norm.
But.
But, this scripture promises me that the Lord is my refuge, a refuge in times of trouble. "He is a stabilizing force for Believers in the midst of the uncertain times of this present age." (commentary, The Spirit Filled Life Bible)
Do you know His Name? Not just literally. But, do you KNOW the One behind the Name? He is our Provider, our Healer. He is the God Who Sees, the Lord our Peace. He is our Shepherd, our Righteousness and The Everlasting God. He IS...
"And those who KNOW Your name will put their trust in You; for you Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You."
Thank You, Father! You are the God Who changes not! When everything around us is falling apart, You, Lord are steady, secure, constant. That gives me great peace. Lord, You are our source and You will never fail us. We can depend on You. We can trust You in all things. Praise You and bless Your Holy Name!!
These words bring great comfort to me because of the perilous times in which we live. Security as we have known it is no more. Our country is at a crossroads. Unemployment, homelessness and crime are all on the rise. People are without hope; despair has become the norm.
But.
But, this scripture promises me that the Lord is my refuge, a refuge in times of trouble. "He is a stabilizing force for Believers in the midst of the uncertain times of this present age." (commentary, The Spirit Filled Life Bible)
Do you know His Name? Not just literally. But, do you KNOW the One behind the Name? He is our Provider, our Healer. He is the God Who Sees, the Lord our Peace. He is our Shepherd, our Righteousness and The Everlasting God. He IS...
"And those who KNOW Your name will put their trust in You; for you Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You."
Thank You, Father! You are the God Who changes not! When everything around us is falling apart, You, Lord are steady, secure, constant. That gives me great peace. Lord, You are our source and You will never fail us. We can depend on You. We can trust You in all things. Praise You and bless Your Holy Name!!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Unconditional Love
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
(John 3:16)
This beloved verse feels good like a fleece blanket on a chilly afternoon, doesn't it? Most of us can quote it in our sleep. Even those who don't believe seem to know these words, or at least have been made aware of them.
Sometimes familiarity can have a numbing effect - the powerful becomes the mundane, the essence of God can become merely words on a page.
I don't want this to happen to me or you. Neither does the Lord.
Let's break it down and renew the wonderment of the first time we heard this life-changing Truth.
"For God so loved the world..."
This love is referring to agape (ag-ah-pay) love. This love is unconditional. It always seeks the highest good of the other person, no matter what he/she does. Agape love is self-giving love that gives freely without asking for anything in return. Agape love is a love by choice.
"For God so loved the world..."
God had not given up on His creation! Throughout history, the Creator was hurt, offended and angered by His people, but He never gave up on them. Even though the children of God continuously broke the covenant, God, in His infinite mercy, never did. Yet, He acknowledged that His people could not walk in righteousness on their own. The daily blood sacrifices of animals achieved their atoning work only for a moment - the effect of the sacrifice remained external, not life-changing. The atoning of sin for the purpose of righteous had to be complete because God, our Father, longed to be with His creation.
In His mercy, God found a way to create an inner work, a work of righteousness where He could dwell within His beloved children. His Son, the perfect Lamb of God would atone for our sins once and for all, bathing us in His Holy blood, making a way for us to commune with the Father. It would be a new work, a work of the God-Head - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
God gave His Son, His only Son...His beloved Son.
Isaiah 9:6 reads, "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His Name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
And His Name shall be called Jesus.
And He would suffer and die on the old rugged cross - the ultimate altar of sacrifice - so that whoever believed that He was the Son of God - fully God and fully man - so that WHOEVER believed this would never die but live from everlasting to everlasting.
Believing in Jesus would mean more than standing on church doctrine or traditions of religious law. No. History was turning a corner.
Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ is pisteuo (pist-yoo-oh) meaning "to trust in, be fully convinced of, have faith in." Pisteuo expresses "reliance upon and such deep trust in", that this belief produces obedience to the authority and Lordship of Jesus Christ.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Jesus. There is something about that Name.
Thank You, Father. Thank You for Your love and Your mercy. Thank You for Your persistence, for never giving up on us. And most of all, thank You for Jesus, our Savior, Redeemer, Prince of Peace and Lord. Your ways are higher than our ways, Your thoughts are not our thoughts. And Your plan of salvation is perfect and entire. Thank You, Lord.
(John 3:16)
This beloved verse feels good like a fleece blanket on a chilly afternoon, doesn't it? Most of us can quote it in our sleep. Even those who don't believe seem to know these words, or at least have been made aware of them.
Sometimes familiarity can have a numbing effect - the powerful becomes the mundane, the essence of God can become merely words on a page.
I don't want this to happen to me or you. Neither does the Lord.
Let's break it down and renew the wonderment of the first time we heard this life-changing Truth.
"For God so loved the world..."
This love is referring to agape (ag-ah-pay) love. This love is unconditional. It always seeks the highest good of the other person, no matter what he/she does. Agape love is self-giving love that gives freely without asking for anything in return. Agape love is a love by choice.
"For God so loved the world..."
God had not given up on His creation! Throughout history, the Creator was hurt, offended and angered by His people, but He never gave up on them. Even though the children of God continuously broke the covenant, God, in His infinite mercy, never did. Yet, He acknowledged that His people could not walk in righteousness on their own. The daily blood sacrifices of animals achieved their atoning work only for a moment - the effect of the sacrifice remained external, not life-changing. The atoning of sin for the purpose of righteous had to be complete because God, our Father, longed to be with His creation.
In His mercy, God found a way to create an inner work, a work of righteousness where He could dwell within His beloved children. His Son, the perfect Lamb of God would atone for our sins once and for all, bathing us in His Holy blood, making a way for us to commune with the Father. It would be a new work, a work of the God-Head - Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
God gave His Son, His only Son...His beloved Son.
Isaiah 9:6 reads, "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His Name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
And His Name shall be called Jesus.
And He would suffer and die on the old rugged cross - the ultimate altar of sacrifice - so that whoever believed that He was the Son of God - fully God and fully man - so that WHOEVER believed this would never die but live from everlasting to everlasting.
Believing in Jesus would mean more than standing on church doctrine or traditions of religious law. No. History was turning a corner.
Believing on the Lord Jesus Christ is pisteuo (pist-yoo-oh) meaning "to trust in, be fully convinced of, have faith in." Pisteuo expresses "reliance upon and such deep trust in", that this belief produces obedience to the authority and Lordship of Jesus Christ.
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
Jesus. There is something about that Name.
Thank You, Father. Thank You for Your love and Your mercy. Thank You for Your persistence, for never giving up on us. And most of all, thank You for Jesus, our Savior, Redeemer, Prince of Peace and Lord. Your ways are higher than our ways, Your thoughts are not our thoughts. And Your plan of salvation is perfect and entire. Thank You, Lord.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
How Many Times Have I Missed God?
"Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. Then Moses said, 'I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.' So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, 'Moses, Moses!' And he said, 'Here I am.'
(Exodus 3:1-4)
Moses was going about his daily routine. He was tending his father-in-law's sheep, leading them to the back of the desert over by Mt. Horeb. His feet were encrusted with the desert dust; his brow glistened with sweat from the blistering heat of the sun.
Just another routine day.
"Then the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the middle of a bush."
Apparently, it was not unusual to see a dried up bush catch fire by spontaneous combustion in the desert. This was a direct result of the intense heat and blaze of the sun.
But this bush wasn't burning!
The next verse makes me laugh: "Then Moses said, 'I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.'"
Who was he talking to? Nobody there, Moses, but a bunch of sheep and they couldn't care less!
Can't you just see Moses straightening himself, dusting his clothing - looking just as dignified and intelligent as possible - then, very matter-of-fact, speaking to himself, "Ummm...I think I'll just turn around now to see this burning bush that is not burning!"
How funny! God definitely has a sense of humor when it comes to His children.
But verse four drives my point home. "So when The Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him..."
What would have happened if Moses had been so deep in thought that he walked right past the bush thinking it was just your typical desert fire? What if he was irritable or mulling over an argument with his wife, Zipporah and not paying attention? What if he was just in a hurry to get the sheep where they needed to be so he could call it a day?
What if?
I have to wonder. How many times have I missed God because I was so caught up in my own little world that I forgot that He is an ever-present God? Have I missed opportunities because He was waiting for me to turn and acknowledge Him? Did my pride stand in the way of responding to the prompting of the Holy Spirit?
God is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Just saying...
Father, I am so thankful that You are merciful and long-suffering with Your children. I am saddened at the thought of missing You in my everyday life. Open our eyes that we might see! Open our ears that we might hear!! Help us to think of you at the rising of the sun and the going down of the same. Help us remember You throughout the day, to look for You in the mundane routines of life. Give us expectant hearts. Here I am, Lord.
(Exodus 3:1-4)
Moses was going about his daily routine. He was tending his father-in-law's sheep, leading them to the back of the desert over by Mt. Horeb. His feet were encrusted with the desert dust; his brow glistened with sweat from the blistering heat of the sun.
Just another routine day.
"Then the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the middle of a bush."
Apparently, it was not unusual to see a dried up bush catch fire by spontaneous combustion in the desert. This was a direct result of the intense heat and blaze of the sun.
But this bush wasn't burning!
The next verse makes me laugh: "Then Moses said, 'I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.'"
Who was he talking to? Nobody there, Moses, but a bunch of sheep and they couldn't care less!
Can't you just see Moses straightening himself, dusting his clothing - looking just as dignified and intelligent as possible - then, very matter-of-fact, speaking to himself, "Ummm...I think I'll just turn around now to see this burning bush that is not burning!"
How funny! God definitely has a sense of humor when it comes to His children.
But verse four drives my point home. "So when The Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him..."
What would have happened if Moses had been so deep in thought that he walked right past the bush thinking it was just your typical desert fire? What if he was irritable or mulling over an argument with his wife, Zipporah and not paying attention? What if he was just in a hurry to get the sheep where they needed to be so he could call it a day?
What if?
I have to wonder. How many times have I missed God because I was so caught up in my own little world that I forgot that He is an ever-present God? Have I missed opportunities because He was waiting for me to turn and acknowledge Him? Did my pride stand in the way of responding to the prompting of the Holy Spirit?
God is the same yesterday, today and forever.
Just saying...
Father, I am so thankful that You are merciful and long-suffering with Your children. I am saddened at the thought of missing You in my everyday life. Open our eyes that we might see! Open our ears that we might hear!! Help us to think of you at the rising of the sun and the going down of the same. Help us remember You throughout the day, to look for You in the mundane routines of life. Give us expectant hearts. Here I am, Lord.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Let!
"Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him."
(Colossians 3:16,17)
The book of Colossians was written by Paul to the Church at Colosse because of widespread false teachings that attempted to blend pagan doctrines into their newly found Christian faith. These folks were babes in Christ - their faith was not yet grounded, so they were vulnerable to false teaching. These false teachings eroded the Lordship of Jesus Christ. These teachings taught that Jesus was not fully God and fully man, but just merely a great teacher or prophet who bridged the gap between God and the world. Because the Believers at Colosse were young in their faith, they were easily swayed by these "sound good/feel good" doctrines. Paul wrote to correct them and to encourage them in the Truth of God's love.
In many ways, the Believers at Colosse were no different than many of us. They believed the teachings of Jesus. God had poured a measure of faith into their hearts, breathed life into their spirits...Yet, they were easily swayed by the surrounding religions and philosophies of their day.
How can we prevent the same dilemma in our lives?
This scripture in Colossians exhorts us to, "Let the Word of Christ dwell richly in you."
Let. Key word.
We all must hunger for the Word of God and feast on it daily. LET it occupy you, fill you up to overflowing. LET it abound in your life, embellishing your Light like a precious jewel. LET the Word bear fruit in your life. Welcome the Word of God with an open heart and you will never be the same.
If you have never spent much time in the Word, that's OK. Every great adventure begins with that first step. Ask the Lord to stir up that hunger and thirst for Him. Ask Him to open the eyes of your understanding. That's what I do. Find a great bible - one you can understand. I hope this doesn't offend anyone, but...the King James Version, as beautiful and poetic as it is, is a translation! Jesus did not speak King James English. He spoke Aramaic and Hebrew. Most of the New Testament was written in Greek. Ask the Lord for discernment, then find a bible that you want to devour!
Sit at the feet of Jesus. LET Him teach you. LET Him change you.
LET Him dwell richly in you.
An exhilarating journey of faith awaits you.
Lord, I yield my spirit to You. Transform me, renew and restore me by the power of Your Word. I don't want anything to stand between me and You. I want You to dwell richly, completely in me. Help me surrender all to You, Lord. Open the eyes of our understanding that we might love You more. You are awesome, Lord. Praise Your Name!!
(Colossians 3:16,17)
The book of Colossians was written by Paul to the Church at Colosse because of widespread false teachings that attempted to blend pagan doctrines into their newly found Christian faith. These folks were babes in Christ - their faith was not yet grounded, so they were vulnerable to false teaching. These false teachings eroded the Lordship of Jesus Christ. These teachings taught that Jesus was not fully God and fully man, but just merely a great teacher or prophet who bridged the gap between God and the world. Because the Believers at Colosse were young in their faith, they were easily swayed by these "sound good/feel good" doctrines. Paul wrote to correct them and to encourage them in the Truth of God's love.
In many ways, the Believers at Colosse were no different than many of us. They believed the teachings of Jesus. God had poured a measure of faith into their hearts, breathed life into their spirits...Yet, they were easily swayed by the surrounding religions and philosophies of their day.
How can we prevent the same dilemma in our lives?
This scripture in Colossians exhorts us to, "Let the Word of Christ dwell richly in you."
Let. Key word.
We all must hunger for the Word of God and feast on it daily. LET it occupy you, fill you up to overflowing. LET it abound in your life, embellishing your Light like a precious jewel. LET the Word bear fruit in your life. Welcome the Word of God with an open heart and you will never be the same.
If you have never spent much time in the Word, that's OK. Every great adventure begins with that first step. Ask the Lord to stir up that hunger and thirst for Him. Ask Him to open the eyes of your understanding. That's what I do. Find a great bible - one you can understand. I hope this doesn't offend anyone, but...the King James Version, as beautiful and poetic as it is, is a translation! Jesus did not speak King James English. He spoke Aramaic and Hebrew. Most of the New Testament was written in Greek. Ask the Lord for discernment, then find a bible that you want to devour!
Sit at the feet of Jesus. LET Him teach you. LET Him change you.
LET Him dwell richly in you.
An exhilarating journey of faith awaits you.
Lord, I yield my spirit to You. Transform me, renew and restore me by the power of Your Word. I don't want anything to stand between me and You. I want You to dwell richly, completely in me. Help me surrender all to You, Lord. Open the eyes of our understanding that we might love You more. You are awesome, Lord. Praise Your Name!!
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Miracle of Miracles
"Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for 12 years and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched the hem of His garment. For she said, 'If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.' Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up and she felt in her body that she was healed of the suffering. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, 'Who touched My clothes?' But His disciples said to Him 'You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?' And He looked around to see who had done this thing. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the truth. And He said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.'"
(Mark 5:25-34)
I have always loved this passage of Scripture. And, like many others, have often wondered how Jesus knew the specific moment the woman touched Him because she only touched the hem of His garment, not His body. And, all of this took place in the midst of a throng of people!
I cannot wait to share with you what the Lord showed me!
Are you ready?
I wondered why she touched the HEM of His garment. A cross reference took me to Numbers 15:38-41. The Lord is speaking to Moses, "Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners (along the hem) of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners. And you shall have the tassel that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them...and be holy for your God. I AM the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I AM the Lord your God."
According to Jewish custom and religious law, the men wore an upper garment folded into a quadrangular shape. Tassels were put on each of these corners to remind them to do God's will. I believe this may be referring to what we know as the Jewish prayer shawl. The prayer shawl was (and is) worn over the head and shoulders during prayer in the synagogue, but it remained on their person at all times. A tradition you may not be familiar with is a garment, rectangular in shape with a hole cut out for the head. This is worn, even today, over the outer garment to remind the Jewish man, to follow God's commandments. A tassel is on each corner, two hang in the front and two in the back symbolizing north, south, east and west - God is everywhere. I believe this is the garment Jesus was wearing, otherwise the woman would have had to fall to the ground in order to touch the hem of His robe.
Why would God require a blue thread placed in each tassel?
In the tabernacle, blue was the color which symbolized the One True God. It reminded the Jews of the heavens. When they looked up into the blue sky, their gaze carried them to thoughts of their Creator.
Isn't this fascinating? Oh, how I love the Word of God!
OK...back to our Scripture passage.
The woman knew that if she touched the hem of His garment, she would be made whole. I now believe that is because the garment represented the Word (the Law) of Almighty God! Remember? The tassels were put on the hem so that His children would know and remember that He is Holy and that He is the One who delivered them out of Egypt!!
She knew His garment represented God's covenant with her. It represented His Word.
That bears repeating: She knew His garment represented God's covenant with her. It represented His Word.
Who is the Word of God? Jesus!!
A little bit louder now...Who is the Word of God? JESUS!!
That's how Jesus felt the power go out of Him when she touched His garment. She was desperately reaching out to God's "Word" and His "Word" realized it!
It makes total sense to me now.
In verse 34 Jesus said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace..."
The actual concept of faith here comes from the Greek word, pistis (pis-tis) meaning "confidence, persuasion, reliance in God and all that He says." The woman knew she could rely on God's Word and now, miracle of miracles, she had met God's Word in the flesh and He had made her whole.
Child, reach out and touch the hem of His garment and be made whole. You can fully rely on God's Word. He IS the One Who has delivered you. He IS the Lord your God.
Praise You, Lord! I get so excited when You show me something new in Your Word! Thank You Father. It is my prayer that others will catch this excitement which You have ignited in me and share the sheer joy of finding hidden treasures in Your Word, like the one today. Your Word is alive. It satisfies the longing soul and sets the captives free. Thank You, Lord.
(Mark 5:25-34)
I have always loved this passage of Scripture. And, like many others, have often wondered how Jesus knew the specific moment the woman touched Him because she only touched the hem of His garment, not His body. And, all of this took place in the midst of a throng of people!
I cannot wait to share with you what the Lord showed me!
Are you ready?
I wondered why she touched the HEM of His garment. A cross reference took me to Numbers 15:38-41. The Lord is speaking to Moses, "Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners (along the hem) of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners. And you shall have the tassel that you may look upon it and remember all the commandments of the Lord and do them...and be holy for your God. I AM the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I AM the Lord your God."
According to Jewish custom and religious law, the men wore an upper garment folded into a quadrangular shape. Tassels were put on each of these corners to remind them to do God's will. I believe this may be referring to what we know as the Jewish prayer shawl. The prayer shawl was (and is) worn over the head and shoulders during prayer in the synagogue, but it remained on their person at all times. A tradition you may not be familiar with is a garment, rectangular in shape with a hole cut out for the head. This is worn, even today, over the outer garment to remind the Jewish man, to follow God's commandments. A tassel is on each corner, two hang in the front and two in the back symbolizing north, south, east and west - God is everywhere. I believe this is the garment Jesus was wearing, otherwise the woman would have had to fall to the ground in order to touch the hem of His robe.
Why would God require a blue thread placed in each tassel?
In the tabernacle, blue was the color which symbolized the One True God. It reminded the Jews of the heavens. When they looked up into the blue sky, their gaze carried them to thoughts of their Creator.
Isn't this fascinating? Oh, how I love the Word of God!
OK...back to our Scripture passage.
The woman knew that if she touched the hem of His garment, she would be made whole. I now believe that is because the garment represented the Word (the Law) of Almighty God! Remember? The tassels were put on the hem so that His children would know and remember that He is Holy and that He is the One who delivered them out of Egypt!!
She knew His garment represented God's covenant with her. It represented His Word.
That bears repeating: She knew His garment represented God's covenant with her. It represented His Word.
Who is the Word of God? Jesus!!
A little bit louder now...Who is the Word of God? JESUS!!
That's how Jesus felt the power go out of Him when she touched His garment. She was desperately reaching out to God's "Word" and His "Word" realized it!
It makes total sense to me now.
In verse 34 Jesus said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace..."
The actual concept of faith here comes from the Greek word, pistis (pis-tis) meaning "confidence, persuasion, reliance in God and all that He says." The woman knew she could rely on God's Word and now, miracle of miracles, she had met God's Word in the flesh and He had made her whole.
Child, reach out and touch the hem of His garment and be made whole. You can fully rely on God's Word. He IS the One Who has delivered you. He IS the Lord your God.
Praise You, Lord! I get so excited when You show me something new in Your Word! Thank You Father. It is my prayer that others will catch this excitement which You have ignited in me and share the sheer joy of finding hidden treasures in Your Word, like the one today. Your Word is alive. It satisfies the longing soul and sets the captives free. Thank You, Lord.
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