Distilled Down to Jesus

"And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment. For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole." Mark 5:25-28

Have you ever 'exhausted all' to try and have something vitally important done. I have. We are taught that if we 'Give it all we've got.' then we can get whatever it is we want in American culture. It is not a biblical teaching.

This verse was one of the main texts at our Church service last night. It was a healing service. This next verse was mentioned also.

"For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues." Mark 3:10

Likely this woman heard about what had happened in Mark 3 and that is what gave her the idea. It turned out to be a very good idea.

"They took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." Acts 4:13b

She had done what other people had done. She did what she heard worked but it was more than that. I hear about a spirituality that is linked to imitation of some kind and that may be an early stage of our Christian life. We do as other Godly people we see and know or respect do.

"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." 1 Cor 13:11

There must be a time where our faith is distilled down. A young person may imitate his Father or older brother but there is a point where he must become an individual and decide to take on the code of honour not just the outward trappings of it.

The outward actions of faith can be imitated but the inner condition of the heart can not be. This woman had exhausted the outward action before she made her way through the crowd. Her thought was distilled down to Jesus Himself and His person.

Then after she touched Him and she was healed. She was very willing to quietly slip back into anonymity. "Who touched me?" said Jesus. Another challenge to faith but no imitation was possible here. Trembling she responds.

Then Christ says, "Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague." Christ was not going to let her faith go unnoticed. She had seen Him and He made sure she knew that she was seen and sensed. He didn't 'out her' He initiated in a way that caused her to reveal herself in another act of faith. This would be no isolated act of faith it would be a momentum that she could live in and walk in. It was to be a lifestyle not just an event.

There is something very personal about our walk with God. It is not solitary. It influences others and is influenced by them but at it's root it is personal. Walking in faith brings to our attention God's personal nature.

We may want God to be personal to us as a condition of walking by faith but it just may be the other way around.

God is on His way somewhere today. Let's go with Him. Let's go in faith wherever He leads.