Thursday, August 11, 2005

Are you seeing Jesus, or touching Him?

Mark 5:27-28 (KJV) 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.

There is a tremendous difference between seeing Jesus and touching Him. I can see Him from afar, but if I desire to touch Him, I need to be close to Him. There are many in the world that are satisfied with simply seeing Him, or hearing about Him. The saints of God, however, need to touch Him on a daily basis. Seeing Him does not make me whole, touching Him does. Each day I must examine myself. Has my desire to touch Him diminished in any way? Have I become so accustomed to being called a Christian that now I am satisfied with only seeing Him? Has my prayer life turned into a one-way conversation? “Come unto me.” He cannot come into me until I come unto Him. Each time I come unto Him, I must strip myself of all prejudices, preconceptions, and religious doctrines. I must press my way in, until I have touched his garment. I must be willing to admit that I have a spiritual infirmity that only Jesus can heal, and I have to persevere until I am able to touch Him. Do you have the desperation that you once had for Jesus? If not, you are suffering from a spiritual infirmity. “For in him we live, and move, and have our being.” My very existence on this earth is dependent upon Jesus Christ. I cannot truly live without Him. I can exist, but I cannot live. I must press through the challenges and temptations of the day, and reach out and touch Him in order to live in the fullness of Christ. If I sense the smallest iota of pride, I must utterly destroy it, that I may come to Him. I cannot be satisfied with simply seeing Him or hearing Him; I must be obsessed with touching Him. Evaluate yourself – where are you today?

8 comments:

Kc said...

This was the perfect devotion for me this morning. It’s far too easy for me to objectify The LORD. Thanks for helping my perspective today. ;-)

Kc said...

Ron I would be honored to swap links and I'd like to get on your mailing list too please.

Kc said...

Thanks Ron. My email addy is caseyc@zebra.net

Bar L. said...

Ron, What a great message for all of us! I want to be close enough to touch Jesus. Thanks so much for stopping by my blod as well.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful words. I love the metaphor.
I would ask, what do you do to feel you have touched Him? How do you go about getting there?

Gary

Ron said...

Gary,

Great question. The first thing is that I must realize that I urgently need Him. Then, I must honestly tell Him I need His presence. No great, long prayer; just me and my Heavenly Father. Even starting by just calling the name Jesus over and over will bring about that change. Unfortunately, we in this country have been taught that God is a God that serves us, when we need to be serving God. It is not God that needs to be on call at all times; it is us. Take some time with Him, just you and Him alone. When you pray, ask for nothing. Just tell Him that you want to worship Him. Tell Him you are desparate for Him. It will feel awkward, but that is only your soul. Remember, we do not walk by the soul, we walk by the spirit. I pray this will help you, Gary.

Eric said...

"I can exist but I cannot live."

True. I like that.

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