Living in the Spirit

June 27, 2021

Scripture Reading:
Mark 5:21-43

And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, ‘If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.’ Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ And his disciples said to him, ‘You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, “Who touched me?”‘ He looked all round to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.’ –Mark 5:25-34

I am not sure what Jesus was describing in these words:  Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, ‘Who touched my clothes?’ The closest experiences I have ever had to that was when I had run out of ideas or options to help someone. In my recognition of my helplessness, there was God. But, of course, God was there all along.

I was raised by a good Methodist who practiced what John Wesley preached.

“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.” ― John Wesley

My mother’s training is still with me today, although I have not attained her level of service. As the song goes, we are called as partners in Christ’s service*.  Being such a partner requires constant communication with the Lord. As people reach out to us for help, we must reach out to God, our source of strength and courage.

Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for loving us in all our circumstances. Guide us in your ways as we seek to be your service partner. Amen.

*Called As Partners in Christ’s Service by Jane Parker Huber, John Zundel see at https://digitalsongsandhymns.com/songs/6113

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.