I admit I have been thinking a lot about our Sunday Covenant Church service ever since it ended last Sunday. That service went so different from what anyone expected when we walked in the door that morning. I also want to admit that I have had a hard time perceiving God’s message for me this week, but it came to me Tuesday morning when I read my Max Lucado devotional.
So let me begin today’s TGIF message by mentioning the prayer request that changed our entire church service last Sunday. Becky Alexander asked for prayers for herself, as she has just been diagnosed with kidney cancer, after having a previous lengthy bout with pancreatic cancer. That led our Pastor to decide that we needed prayers for Becky and another member Patsy Sutton, who has also been dealing with treatments for her cancer continually for 8 years now, more than we needed the sermon that he had already prepared.
We had all church attendees come to the front of the church where we could individually pray for Becky and Patsy. I would note that almost everyone present that morning prayed for them individually, and then Pastor Don concluded with prayer. We were bold in our prayers for them to be cured of their disease.
Before I share Max’s Tuesday devotional, I want to share more of the scripture that his message is based on, as shown below from the Book of Mark. I believe this will be helpful for your understanding of Max’s beautiful message.
Mark 5:25-34 – A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, 26 and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but instead had become worse— 27 after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak. 28 For she had been saying to herself, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.” 29 And immediately the flow of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 And immediately Jesus, perceiving in Himself that power from Him had gone out, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My garments?” 31 And His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing in on You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’” 32 And He looked around to see the woman who had done this. 33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. 34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be cured of your disease.”
Now here is the Max Lucado devotional for Tuesday, January 28. It is titled A Hunch and a Hope. It begins with verse 34 from the above scripture I shared.
He then continues Maybe all you have is a crazy hunch and a high hope. You have nothing to give. But you are hurting. And all you have to offer Him is your hurt.
Maybe that has kept you from coming to God. Oh, you’ve taken a step or two in His direction. But then you saw the other people around Him. They seemed so clean, so neat, so trim and fit in their faith. And when you saw them, they blocked your view of Him. So you stepped back.
If that describes you, note carefully … one person whom Christ commended … for having faith. It wasn’t a wealthy giver. It wasn’t a loyal follower. It wasn’t an acclaimed teacher. It was a shame-struck, penniless outcast who clutched onto her hunch that He could and her hope that He would.
Which, by the way, isn’t a bad definition of faith. A conviction that He can and a hope that He will.
Whether you are new to Jesus or a dedicated believer like Becky and Patsy, all you need is a conviction that He can and a hope that He will! Amen!