April 22, 2020: SOAP #3793:  1Samuel 25,26; Psalm 63; Matthew 9

Scripture:  Matthew (NIV) 9:18 While he was saying this, a ruler 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 from that moment…
25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.

Observation:  These two remarkable miracles happened within the same day.  Jesus was on His way in response to a father’s faith for his daughter.  The father’s faith was for Jesus to touch his daughter and she would live.  Jesus’ journey was interrupted by a woman who had been ill for twelve years.  The woman’s faith was for her to touch Jesus’ clothes and she would be healed.

Jesus touched the girl; the woman touched Jesus.  The expression of their faith was different; the object of their faith was the same.  Both received what was needed.

Application:  The expression of my faith is proof that faith is present.  Different situations will bring about different expressions of my faith.  But the one thing constant must be the object of my faith.  Jesus will act according to His word.  The better I know the Bible, the better I will understand how God works and what I can expect.  Faith comes from hearing God speak to me, and hearing God speak comes through the word of God.  (Romans 10:17)

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thank you for your word.  Thank you for the specific of what you expect from me and what I can expect from you.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!