The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Touch (the sense of touch) (08/05/10)
For she thought, "If I just touch His garments, I will get well." (Mark 5:28 NAS)
We usually associate the sense of touch with the use of hands. In actuality, however, touch is not confined to specific parts of the body. Unlike the other four senses which are correlated to the eye, ear, nose and tongue, the sense of touch can be found all over the body because it is made up of many tiny nerve endings at the bottom layer of our skin.

Nerve endings communicate information about the things the body comes in contact with by sending messages to the central nervous system. If we touch something hot or cold, for example, the nerve endings in our skin will immediately pick up the sensory signal and react in response to the feeling by withdrawing or extending our touch. This is done by carrying the information to our spinal cords, which then send messages to the brain where the feeling is registered.

Like the way our brain communicates in response to our touch, the Bible records an incident of a woman who by touching our Lord’s garment was healed of hemorrhage which she had suffered for 12 years (Mark 5:25-34; Luke 8:43-48). After hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak (Mark 5:27). Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body she was healed of her affliction (Mark 5:29). Jesus, perceiving in Himself the power proceeding from Him had gone forth, turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched My garments?" When the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she responded and fell down before Jesus and told Him the whole truth (Mark 5:33; Luke 8:47).

This reported incident in the Bible teaches us a few things about touch and faith. First, to want to receive a touch from the Lord, we must make the first move to act on our belief (Mark 5:27). Second, to receive the touch, we need to draw near to Him with faith (Mark 5:28). Third, we need to recognize there is power proceeding from God when we receive His touch (Mark 5:29-30; Luke 8:44). Fourth, we should share and testify what the Lord has done for us, preferably without being asked to do so or having God to find us out (Mark 5:33-34; Luke 8:47-48).

If we, like the woman who was healed of hemorrhage, want to receive a touch from God, we should first make the move to seek after Him. We should draw near to Him with faith, regardless the situations we are facing now. When we come to the Lord, we should recognize there is power proceeding from God, and with full confidence receive His touch. We should not to be ashamed to testify to the world the great things the Lord has done for us, for such are the testimonies that will bear witness of Christ in leading the yet unsaved to Him.

Just as we know the sense of touch is not confined to specific parts of the body, let us also not limit or expect the touch of the Lord to come in specific ways. Let us instead be like the nerve endings pick up quickly the sensory signal to react in response to the different situations we face each day in presenting Christ to the lost. Rather than ‘send chills down the spine’ in frightening people into receiving Christ, let us be sensitive to the Holy Spirit to know when to withdraw or extend our touch in reaching the ones prepared for the kingdom of God.

Touch us O Lord and move our hearts to know when to withdraw or extend our touch in reaching out to the lost. Instill upon us Lord the sensitivity to react quickly in response to the different situations we face in presenting You to the ones prepared for Your kingdom. Help us Lord to always be ready to share and testify the great things You have done for us, and not to hide the truth or be ashamed to share it to others. Thank You dear Lord for touching us and for meeting our needs when we draw near to You with faith.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 1447 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Jeanne E Webster
08/13/10
Your entry certainly dealt with the topic. Very scriptural and a good tool for evangelization.

I feel the first two paragraphs were fill and not necessary for the topic. Also there is some redundancy in regards to testifying about one's faith. Great grammar and punctuation and a writer you are becoming. Blessings. :)
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
08/14/10
This is a good devotion. You put a lot of facts and backed up what you were saying. it might have been more effective if you described each step right after you listed them. beautiful prayer.
Maria Egilsson
08/17/10
I love the thoughts you have put forward here. For me, I think the first two paragraphs are unneccesary as your third one brings in the subject very well. I am wondering if illustrating 4 points is too much in a short writing piece. Maybe focusing on the main point.... there are times that God wants us to take a step towards him, to reach out and touch Him.. would give a more direct punch to this devotional. Well done.
Caitlyn Meissner
08/18/10
I found the first two paragraphs to be very interesting, but had a hard time tying them into the rest of your article. Perhaps, as often happens to me, you just had too many good points to make. ;) Still, I enjoyed this article, and am glad you brought up this Bible story in the touch topic. It is one of my favorites.
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
08/20/10
Congratulations for placing in the top 15 of your level.