He gives freely

Jesus shows just how freely he heals and forgives in Luke 8:43-48.

43 Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, 44 came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped. 45 And Jesus said, "Who touched Me?" When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, "Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?'" 46 But Jesus said, "Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me." 47 Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately. 48 And He said to her, "Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace."

When I read it as part of an email from Dr. Rod Hoskins this morning, it struck me that the woman was healed by Jesus when she simply touched his robe.  She had not spoken to Jesus, not asked him for healing first, she simply believed that if she could touch his robe she would be healed and when she did she was healed.  It says that the multitudes throng and pressed Jesus but it only mentions this one woman as being healed simply by her touching Jesus.  Jesus knew he had healed someone but not who, when she revealed herself he tells us what the difference was between her and the multitudes.  Jesus says to her "...your faith has made you well...."  Jesus could have healed her a number of other ways but shhe had faith enough that a simple touch of his garmet healed her, it was her faith that made that work. 

  Before I was saved I was Mr. Doom and Gloom, if a situation came up I would always look at the downside, never the optimist rarely believing in things going my way just on faith.  Recently I have begun a sort of self-censorship, instead of speaking defeat, speaking negative outcomes I speak faith over the situation and over the outcome that I desire.  I have finally learned in my life that there is no profit (spiritual or material) in being negative.  One of the ways that I do this is through scripture one in particular is Psalm 27:13-14  Yet I am confident I will see the LORD's goodness while I am here in the land of the living.  Wait patiently for the LORD.  Be brave and courageous.  Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.  Or as my good friend Pastor Mark would say Come'on Jesus! (this is good both before and after the victory).  (As I write this, good news came in that I had been believing for, Come'on Jesus!)    How did the woman in Luke know Jesus would heal her?  She believed, she had faith that healing would be the outcome of her touching Jesus' robe and that is exactly what happened.



If you ever have any doubt about how God feels about you:
In Isaiah 41, GOD himself says "I have called you back from the ends of the earth, saying, 'You are my servant.'  For I have chosen you and will not throw you away.  Don't be afraid, for I am with you.  Don't be discouraged, for I am you God.  I will strengthen you and help you.  I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."