Touch of Faith

For she thought, "If I just touch His garments, I will get well." (Mark 5:28 NAS)

We usually associate the sense of touch with the use of hands. In actuality, however, touch is not confined to specific parts of the body. Unlike the other four senses which are correlated to the eye, ear, nose and tongue, the sense of touch can be found all over the body because it is made up of many tiny nerve endings at the bottom layer of our skin.

Nerve endings communicate information about the things the body comes in contact with by sending messages to the central nervous system. If we touch something hot or cold, the nerve endings in our skin will immediately pick up the sensory signal and react in response to the feeling by withdrawing or extending our touch. This is done by carrying the information to our spinal cords which then send messages to the brain where the feeling is registered.

Just as the sense of touch is not confined to specific parts of the body, as Christians we should also not limit or expect the touch of the Lord to come in specific ways. Instead, we should like the nerve endings, be quick to pick up the sensory signal and react in response to the different situations we face each day in presenting Christ to the lost. Rather than ‘send chills down the spine’ in frightening people into receiving Christ, we ought to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit to know when to withdraw or extend our touch in reaching the ones prepared for the kingdom of God.

Like the way our brain communicates in response to our touch, the Bible also records an incident of a woman who by touching our Lord’s garment was healed of hemorrhage she had suffered for 12 years (Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48). After hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak (Mark 5:27). Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body she was healed of her affliction (Mark 5:29). Jesus, perceiving in Himself the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched My garments?" When the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she responded and fell down before Jesus and told Him the whole truth (Mark 5:33; Luke 8:47).

This reported incident in the Bible teaches us a few things about touch and faith. First, to want to receive a touch from the Lord, we must make the first move to act on our belief (Mark 5:27). Second, to receive the touch, we need to draw near to Him with faith (Mark 5:28). Third, we need to recognize there is power proceeding from God when we receive His touch (Mark 5:29-30; Luke 8:44). Fourth, we should share and testify what the Lord has done for us, preferably without being asked to do so or having God to find us out (Mark 5:33-34; Luke 8:47-48).

If we, like the woman healed of hemorrhage, want to receive a touch from God, we should first make the move to seek after Him. We should draw near to Him with faith, regardless the situations we are facing now. When we come to the Lord, we should also recognize there is power proceeding from God, and with full confidence receive His touch. We should not to be ashamed to testify to the world the great things the Lord has done for us, for such are the testimonies that will bear witness of Christ in leading the yet unsaved to Him.

Touch us O Lord and move our hearts to know when to withdraw or extend our touch in reaching out to the lost. Instill upon us Lord the sensitivity to react quickly in response to the different situations we face in presenting You to the ones prepared for Your kingdom. Help us Lord to always be ready to share and testify the great things You have done for us, and not to hide the truth or be ashamed to share it to others. Thank You dear Lord for touching us and for meeting our needs when we draw near to You with faith.