Come and Go

Daily Reading:  Mark 5

Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.. (Mark 5.34)

Devotional Thought: Mark 5 is a chapter about deliverance.  There are three stories in this chapter: Jesus delivering a man from demons, Jesus delivering a church official’s daughter from death, Jesus delivering a chronically ill woman from disease.  It was to the chronically ill woman that Jesus spoke the words above.

Can you imagine her joy?  For 12 years this woman had had no relief from her sickness.  For twelve years every aspect of her life – physical, emotional, social, financial, and even spiritual – was being negatively impacted by her condition.  The disease had taken over!  She was at the end of her hope!  But one day she heard about a man who was coming to town, a man named Jesus.  She knew she would be frowned upon to be in the crowd that day.  She knew that ceremonial laws prohibited her from touching Jesus.  She knew that nothing may happen.  But she went anyway.  She pushed through the crowd.  She reached out.  She touched Jesus.

And power came forth from Jesus!  Immediately she was healed.  She knew it!  She was set free from her suffering. Restored were her physical health, her emotional wholeness, her social acceptability, her financial stability, and her spiritual freedom.  In an instant - upon the touch of Jesus - she had peace.

Are there things that have impacted every area of your life?  Sickness?  Sorrow?  Tragedy?  Loss of job?  Separation?  Addiction?  Bitterness?  Are you at the end of your hope?  Bring your condition to Jesus.  Press through the doubts and fears.  Ignore the naysayers.  In desperation reach out and touch him.  Hear his words: "Go in peace and be healed of your disease!"

Prayer: "Out of my darkness into Thy light, Out of my weakness into Thy might; Jesus, I come, Jesus I come; ... Out of my bondage and sorrow and strife, Into Thy freedom, forgiveness and life; Jesus, I come, Jesus I come."  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: 4.1-8

1 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness! You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

2 O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? Selah

3 But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him.

4 Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Selah

5 Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD.

6 There are many who say, "Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!"

7 You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.

8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.