Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

This week, we will delve into how encounters with God leaves people better than they came.

In today’s scripture, Matthew 14:35‭-‬36 (NLT), we read about people who came to Jesus for healing in the hem of His famous garment…
When the people recognized Jesus, the news of his arrival spread quickly throughout the whole area, and soon people were bringing all their sick to be healed… They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed.

Consider…
I remember a moment in my life that I was desperate for a consoling touch. I went to church to get a brotherly hug from my dear friend Tony, only to be surprised by a love of Christ hug from my sister Dana. I recall leaving church and calling Ken and telling him about how I left church better than I came to it. My faith led me to seek out a touch from my brother at church, and instead received a loving touch from Christ that changed my life and revealed my wife.

I also recall a recent testimony from a friend who was struggling and desperate to have his spirit lifted. In God’s Providence, there was a revival at his church back home that week, so he flew home, attended and called me excited that he had indeed been revived. He sought a touch from Lord, and God delivered!

There’s another moment recently where I witnessed a sister on our praise team ministering after her father had just died. I wouldn’t have known it, except in the opening prayer, she was mentioned by name. What amazed me more, is how the Lord ministered to her while she ministered to us. That made me think of Fred Hammond singing, “let me encourage you as I encourage me.” While I believe she ministered broken with loss of her earthly daddy, I also believe she left better than she came by the comforting touch of her Heavenly Father.

The common thread in all of these recollections is, everyone was desperate for a touch from Jesus, which led all of them to church. This made me think of the woman with the issue of blood who was desperate to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment (Matthew 9:20-22).

Most of us know that story, but did you know that five chapters later, we would see others follow this woman’s example and implore Jesus to allow their sick friends and family to touch His garment too? Allow me to highlight some transformational observations from today’s scripture…

• Folks recognized Jesus. Do you? 🤷🏾‍♂
• They spread the word that He was in the area. Have you? 🤷🏾‍♀
• People were bringing others to Him. Are you? 🤷🏾
• The well interceded on behalf of the sick to allow them to touch His hem. Will you? 🤷‍♂
• All who touched were healed.

Listing those, made me think about the friends bringing the paralytic man to Jesus. Recall, despite the obstacles, they were so confident that Jesus could, and would heal their friend, they climbed on the roof and lowered him to Him (Luke 5:18-20). Although we know he was healed, it’s important to note that verse 20 said Jesus saw the friends faith and responded! Jesus began by healing the man’s soul before making him whole. No doubt, this friend-initiated encounter with Jesus left a broken, sinful man better than he came.

Some of us need to know that our faith can bring others to the healing touch of Jesus. Keep praying and believing 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

Whether for yourself or others, know that if you press your way to Jesus broken, He can and will heal you.

I’ll leave you with lyrics from a treasured hymn from my youth…

Shackled by a heavy burden,
‘Neath a load of guilt and shame
Then the hand of Jesus touched me,
And now I am no longer the same

He touched me, oh He touched me,
And oh the joy that floods my soul!
Something happened and now I know,
He touched me and made me whole

Since I met this blessed Savior,
Since He cleansed and made me whole,
I will never cease to praise Him,
I’ll shout it while eternity rolls

He touched me, oh He touched me,
And oh the joy that floods my soul!
Something happened and now I know
He touched me and made me whole

Today, bring yourself and others to Jesus for a touch, and I promise that you’ll leave better than you came. 🤗🤗🤗

Today’s song is…
Broken But I’m Healed
https://youtu.be/UlfGuQR4c2o?si=KLjFm14LX70KGarH

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)