Who Touched Me?

Today’s devotional is a little different than usual.

MacDonald Duncan, a friend and one of the amazing young men I’ve had the privilege of ministering alongside in the suburbs of Johannesburg, South Africa, recently posted his thoughts on social media. With his permission, I am sharing it with you. In Luke 8:42-48, we read...

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,[c] 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.”

- Luke 8:42-48

MacDonald Duncan wrote:

The Bible doesn't mention the name of the woman who had the issue of blood. No book in the Bible mentions her name. Everyone didn't call her by her name, they called her "a woman with the issue of blood." Even preachers today still call her that. Her identity is now defined by her issue.

Ever had an encounter with an issue for long and you ended up being identified through that issue?

When we pay careful attention to the miracle of this woman, we'd see how Jesus reminds this woman of her identity.

Jesus, after realizing that power had went out of Him, asks, "Who touched me?"

I wondered, what business does Jesus have with who the power went off to? He’s supposed to heal anyone anyway. But when the woman came forth to confess that she's the one that touched Jesus; the first thing that Jesus said was... "Daughter...". He didn't say, “Oh, Woman with an Issue of Blood, you've been made whole.” But He said “DAUGHTER.” He reminded the woman that she was more than what people called her.

There are people calling you names today because of what you went through. They are identifying you through the troubles and the pain that you went through. But I want to remind you today that you're more than that.

You're a child of the Most High God. You're loved. You're adored. You're the apple of God's eye.

I declare today, through the anointing vested in me and in the name of Jesus, that your situation is changing, you will receive your miracle and you will no longer be known by your issues. Like the woman who was identified by her sickness, may you remember that you're a child of God.

Amen.

Thank you, MacDonald, for this beautiful devotional and for allowing me to share it.

I affirm your declaration and pray that whatever issue someone may be facing, by the power of the Holy Spirit, they will be released from it today and know how valued they are by God.

Pastor Ken

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