October 30, 2016: SOAP #2523:  Job 21; Mark 5-6

Scripture:  Mark (NIV) 5:27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. … 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

Observation:   What was it about her faith that brought her healing?   First, her faith was not in the garment, but the One wearing the garment!  He was the focus of her faith.  Second, her faith motivated her to action.  Later James would write that faith without works is dead.  Her faith cause her to work her way through the crowd, to get close to Jesus, and to reach out and touch Him.  In the next chapter, we read: “And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside— they placed the sick in the market-places. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.”  Mark 6:56

Application:   My faith is more than just a thought in my mind.  True faith comes out my mouth and is seen in my actions.  If my faith is not strong enough to affect the way I talk and the way I act, it is dead and not strong enough to save me. (James 2:17 & 26) Like a muscle, faith grows as I exercise it.

Prayer:    Heavenly Father, I know you want my faith to grow so You speak to me and give me things to do that are beyond my abilities.  But in obeying you, my faith grows and you accomplish your will through me.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!