Reach out... by Gary Rose

This “Northern Lights” picture actually looks like a flowing curtain or garment and its attribution, “The Hem of His Garment” is quite appropriate.

Obviously, the photo refers to the following passage found in The King James Bible, which says…

King James Version Matthew 9

²⁰ And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

²¹ For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

²² But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

I can only imagine how this woman must have suffered over twelve years! She must have been desperate to be well and was willing to do anything to be whole again. And, not just physically, but psychologically as well. If you have ever had a health problem that lingered for years, then you know that sickness affects all aspects of your life; physical, emotional, psychological, social and religious are all affected. You simply endure and endure both pain and hardship that seems to never end. You lose touch with the fellowship of others and assuming this woman was a Jew- she could not even attend temple services because she was unclean.

It is interesting to me that she would be thinking about even touching the hem of his garment, for this indicates a spirit of humility. She almost certainly had been a witness to Jesus power to heal and undoubtedly believed what she saw was genuine. So, she tentatively reached out to Jesus.

How many of us are willing to do the same? How many of us are so full of pride that we feel we simply do not NEED anyone for ANYTHING? Perhaps it will take a disaster of some sort to make us realize that we really need Jesus to help us with our sin problem. Could it be that there is a blessing in disguise in the hardships of life that lead us to reconsider our spiritual condition.

If you have a problem in your life – reach out to Jesus. After all, that is what he came to earth to do; help those who cannot help themselves. Humble yourself and by faith, trust in Jesus, believe in him and the truth of his Gospel. Become a Christian and determine to be faithful to him for your entire life – no matter WHAT HAPPENS!

Again, I say – REACH OUT! Jesus will never refuse a humble contrite spirit. One more thing… DO NOT WAIT; who knows how long anyone has to live? Today is all we have- seek Jesus and LIVE!