Read Mark 5:24-34; Luke 8:43-48

Tremendous Blessings

How seriously do we view sin? When we are physically ill, whether it be with cancer or some other damaging disease, do we not try to resolve the issue? The woman who had suffered from “a flow of blood for twelve years” (Luke 8:43) had gone to great extremes to find a cure. Luke says that she “had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any” (Luke 8:43), while Mark adds the fact that she “rather grew worse” (Mark 5:26).

Jesus arrives on the scene, healing many, and this woman is convinced, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well” (Mark 5:28). Jesus is surrounded and thronged by many people as He travels to the house of Jairus, and the woman reaches out and touches “the border of His garment” (Luke 8:44). Immediately she is healed. No more doctors. No more blood. No more wasted resources for an incurable disease.

This woman demonstrated faith in the power of Jesus and was blessed because of that faith. Her faith was not merely a belief that He could heal her, but it motivated her to seek that healing. Had she never left her house, she never could have been blessed in such a tremendous way.

Let’s return now to the question at the beginning of this devotional. How seriously do we view sin? There is no doctor on earth that can heal us of the malady of sin. There is no cure in this world for it. But if we believe in Jesus’ power to save and actively seek Him and demonstrate our faith in His power to cleanse us of the stain of sin, we can be blessed in a tremendous way!

So many, however, refuse to go to the Great Physician. They refuse to take the medicine He prescribes. They refuse to exercise their spiritual muscles and feed on the meat of His Word. Friends, we will never be healed of sin if we do not follow His remedy!

Jesus wants to surround you with people that love you in His church. He wants to cleanse you in the waters of baptism. He wants to see you exercise faith and grow stronger in His Word and in His kingdom. He wants you to bring others to Him for that same power to heal their spiritual disease of sin. Reach out to Jesus, obey His commands, and let Him save you.