Bold Faith

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
Luke 8 (click the link)


I am writing this after reading Tres’s devotional on Luke 6 where he encouraged us to “experience the scene with our senses,” to read in such a way as to place ourselves in the story, to creatively imagine the drama. So, with that fresh on my mind (and heart) I read through chapter 8 and had to fight back tears as I reached the end. The closing scene of this chapter is utterly gripping.

Here it is for you in case you haven’t read it yet: 

Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. 

As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. 

"Who touched me?" Jesus asked.

When they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you."

But Jesus said, "Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me."

Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."

While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," he said. "Don't bother the teacher any more."

Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed."

When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child's father and mother. Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. "Stop wailing," Jesus said. "She is not dead but asleep."

They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!" Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened. (Luke 8:40-56, NIV) 

Imagine the throngs of people running to Jesus as he enters town, full of excitement as they expectantly awaited his return. One woman in particular had endured over a decade of shame and pain because of her “issue of blood.” This was an especially crippling infirmity in that culture with its strict rules for menstruating women.

With everyone clamoring for Jesus attention, he singles out this one woman whose faith drew healing power from him. I imagine the tears streaming down her face as Jesus declares her healed. A decade of pain and shame cured because of her bold faith. 

Let’s not miss what Luke is laying out for us. The kingdom of God (the in-breaking of God’s rule and blessing) is available for all, but experienced by those with bold faith. Just earlier in the chapter Jesus is asked to leave the region of the Gerasenes, “because they were overcome with fear” after seeing the results of Jesus’ power over the demonic.

The presence of the power of God is not always welcomed with faith, even by those who claim allegiance to Christ. Fear is not uncommon when God begins to move powerfully among us. But those with bold faith who press into Jesus expecting to receive power from him can be confident to experience it, even if it plays out differently than anticipated. (I doubt the woman expected to have that conversation about her private ailment in front of all those people, and would have preferred not to, but Jesus knew it would ultimately honor her in front of the community.)

In the closing section of the chapter I love how Jesus implores Jairus to keep up his faith that his daughter would be healed, even after hearing of her death. Talk about bold faith! As I play the scene in my mind… Jesus inviting only a few people into the room with the dead girl, taking her limp hand and speaking life back into her lifeless body—“My child, get up,” the utter astonishment and gratitude of the parents… I sense the invitation of Jesus to boldly believe him for the things in our lives given up for dead.

What is it that I have long given up hope for that Jesus would like to revive if I would just stir up my faith? 

Whether we like it or not, our faith plays a vital role in the activity of God in our lives. No, we cannot figure out the mystery of how it all actually “works”, but we know that we partner with God in some mysterious way through faith. 

I believe that God is inviting me, once again, to trust him boldly for things, people, dreams, ministry, etc. that I have given up hope on. For me, often it is easier just to accept things as they are rather than revive faith that God will move powerfully and miraculously. Would you join me, as God enables us, to boldly believe God for the full in-breaking of his Kingdom, for the full abundant life he dreams for us to experience? Luke tells us that it is available to those with bold faith.

WHO AM I

I am Greg Bland, and I want everything that God has in store for me.