36 and they implored Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were cured.” Matthew 14:34-36.
This section of Scripture is very short, but it is worthy of a separate devotion. I liked the powerful simplicity of this message.
It is stated here that “the men of that place recognized Him”.
Do we recognize Jesus when we read Scripture? Or, do we pass Him by to teach a good moral lesson that is on our agenda? Jesus said in John 5:39: “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me;”
Do we recognize Jesus when we consider a church and a denomination to attend? Is He the focus of that church or denomination? Do they have a passion for Him? But, most importantly, do they have a true understanding of Him based on Scripture?
Do we recognize Jesus when we see activities by other Christians? We may consider joining them or financially supporting them or encouraging them or praying for them.
It is stated here that “they sent word into all that surrounding district”.
After we recognize the presence of Jesus, do we send word into all the surrounding district?
There are many means by which word can be sent. There is personal word of mouth. There are telephone calls. There is mail. There are emails. There are web sites. There is newspaper advertising. There are pamphlets, magazines, books, and other written publications. I have seen vehicles with messages written outside. I have seen airplanes pulling banners.
It is stated here that they “brought to Him all who were sick”.
Do we also bring people to Him? It is easy to invite someone to church. But, it is much more of an effort but much more effective to pick that person up and bring them to church, sit with them, and then maybe even bring them home for Sunday dinner after church.
It is stated here that “as many as touched it (Jesus’ cloak) were cured.”
“O taste and see that the LORD is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” Psalm 34:8
Would it help anyone to admire Jesus, and maybe even talk about Jesus, without “touching” Him? Yet, there are those who do so, but they are unwilling or do not take time to attend church and read Scripture and pray.
We may scorn those who don’t, and we may feel quite proud that we do attend church and read Scripture and pray, but do we really “touch” Jesus as we should?
Notice the passion of Paul for Christ, for the righteousness that comes from God, and for the resurrection from the dead, in the following Scripture. Notice that Paul did not consider having “obtained it or have already become perfect”. He states: “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
“7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.
8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,
9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,
10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;
11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you;
16however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.” Philippians 3:7-16.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 