For Reading and Meditation:
Luke 8:40-56
We continue meditating on Christ's first prescription for happiness: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." Over the past few days we have seen that the phrase "poor in spirit" refers not to material poverty, but spiritual poverty - a willingness to throw away our own self-sufficiency and open our hands to receive Christ. The passage before us today shows how on one occasion as Jesus passed along the road, a multitude thronged around Him. A woman in deep need came timidly through the crowd and touched His garment. "Who touched Me?" asked Jesus as He felt power go forth from Him. The disciples replied: "Master, the multitudes throng You, so why do you say, 'Who touched Me?' " "Somebody touched me", said Jesus. He knew that there was a great difference between thronging Him and touching Him. Those who throng Jesus get little, those who touch Jesus get everything. Sunday after Sunday, thousands of people go to church and listen; they throng Jesus but never touch Him. If you are one of those who constantly throng Jesus but never touch Him, then I pray that over these few days in which we are meditating on the opening words of the Beatitudes, you will reach out and touch Christ in a definite and personal way. Touch Him now - today. Touch Him for forgiveness, for cleansing, for power over temptation, over fears, over anxieties, over everything that stands in the way of your personal happiness. As Christ gave Himself to those who needed Him when He was here on earth, so He does today. Cease thronging Him - touch Him.
O Lord Jesus, as You pass by I move up from those who throng You to boldly touch You - and I do it now. By the touch of faith I receive into my being Your forgiveness and Your power. Thank You, dear Lord. It's done. Amen.