Ashamed

I pretty sure somewhere, sometime in our lives we have felt this dreaded feeling - shame. Well today I'd like to share about someone who was ashamed everywhere and every time until someone came into town and changed everything.

There was once a woman who suffered from chronic bleeding. Day in and day out she grew weaker as she bled uncontrollably. It was painful, it was shameful and to make matters worst, it was scorned in her community. She lived in a Jewish community where women with bleeding conditions like her were considered unclean, unrighteous, untouchable.

In desperation she has seen every physician in her town and spent away everything she had in hope to become well and acceptable again. But no one seemed to be able to cure her condition.. until one day.

She heard a man was in town, a man who could perform miracles like no one has ever seen or conceive. And a seed of faith grew in her, "If only I could touch this man's clothes. Even if I just touch his clothes, that would be enough to heal me."

And so she waited at the street she knew he would pass until finally she saw him. But there was something she didn't expect - a crowd. A huge crowd pressed against this famous man from every side, a huge crowd that will stone her should they realize that an "unclean" woman has forced her way through them.

It didn't matter, she was desperate. She's spent too long sick and much too long unclean. So she pressed and pressed through the crowds. Not thinking of what may happen to her, but focused solely on THE ONE who will heal her. And finally, she touched him! Through the cloak she felt a power surge through her body and finally, for the first time in 12 years, she was well, she was clean.

The man noticed someone drew power from him and started to question his followers "who had touched me?". Fearfully, she stepped forward. "What would this holy and powerful man say now that he realized a person like me touched him?" she thought.

And he said in a gentle voice, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace! Be cured from your illness.”

(This is my personal paraphrase of Mark 5:24-34)

That man as many of you all should know is Jesus. He is alive and able to do the same for you and me today. If you're feeling ashamed, unrighteous and downright sinful; come to him, press through your doubts, reach out and touch him. He doesn't mind at all.

He'll just probably say, "Child, your faith in my love has made you well. Go! Live your life in peace knowing you are righteous in my sight. I've healed you."

GOD LOVES YOU