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It has to be Personal, October 19
Luke 8:41-48
If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
Matthew 9:21
.
It was a poor woman who spoke these words—a woman who for twelve
years had suffered from a disease that made her life a burden. She had spent all
her means upon physicians and remedies, only to be pronounced incurable. But
as she heard of the Great Healer, her hopes revived.... Again and again she had
tried in vain to get near Him
She had begun to despair, when, in making His way through the multitude,
He came near where she was.... But amid the confusion she could not speak
to Him, nor catch more than a passing glimpse of His figure.... As He was
passing, she reached forward, and succeeded in barely touching the border of
His garment. But in that moment she knew that she was healed. In that one
touch was concentrated the faith of her life, and instantly her pain and feebleness
gave place to the vigor of perfect health.
With a grateful heart she then tried to withdraw from the crowd; but suddenly
Jesus stopped.... The Saviour could distinguish the touch of faith from the
casual contact of the careless throng. Such trust should not be passed without
comment.... Finding concealment vain, she came forward tremblingly, and cast
herself at His feet. With grateful tears she told the story of her suffering, and how
she had found relief. Jesus gently said, “Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith
hath made thee whole; go in peace.” He gave no opportunity for superstition
to claim healing virtue for the mere act of touching His garments. It was not
through the outward contact with Him, but through the faith which took hold on
His divine power, that the cure was wrought....
So in spiritual things. To talk of religion in a casual way, to pray without
soul hunger and living faith, avails nothing. A nominal faith in Christ, which
accepts Him merely as the Saviour of the world, can never bring healing to the
soul.... It is not enough to believe
about
Christ; we must believe
in
Him. The
only faith that will benefit us is that which embraces Him as a personal Saviour;
which appropriates His merits to ourselves
[299]
33
The Ministry of Healing, 59
.
34
The Desire of Ages, 343-347
.
310