{"id":46407,"date":"2021-10-11T22:05:16","date_gmt":"2021-10-11T19:05:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=46407"},"modified":"2025-05-20T01:20:18","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T22:20:18","slug":"take-heart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2021\/10\/11\/take-heart\/","title":{"rendered":"TAKE HEART"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Jesus <\/span>turned <\/span>and <\/span>saw <\/span>her, <\/span>and <\/span>said, \u201c<\/span>Take <\/span>heart, <\/span>daughter; <\/span>your <\/span>faith <\/span>has <\/span>made <\/span>you <\/span>well.\u201d <\/span>And <\/span>from <\/span>that <\/span>hour, <\/span>the <\/span>woman <\/span>was <\/span>healed.<\/span>
\u2014 <\/span>Matthew <\/span>9:<\/span>20-<\/span>22 (<\/span>ESV)<\/span><\/p>\n

Reflect <\/span>for <\/span>a <\/span>moment <\/span>on <\/span>the <\/span>woman <\/span>who <\/span>had <\/span>been <\/span>suffering <\/span>from <\/span>bleeding <\/span>for <\/span>twelve <\/span>years. <\/span>She <\/span>dared <\/span>to <\/span>touch <\/span>the <\/span>fringe <\/span>of <\/span>Jesus\u2019 <\/span>garment, <\/span>believing <\/span>that <\/span>this <\/span>simple <\/span>act <\/span>of <\/span>faith <\/span>would <\/span>heal <\/span>her. <\/span>Imagine <\/span>what <\/span>must <\/span>have <\/span>been <\/span>going <\/span>through <\/span>her <\/span>mind\u2014<\/span>and <\/span>what <\/span>others <\/span>thought <\/span>as <\/span>they <\/span>followed <\/span>Jesus. <\/span>The <\/span>answer <\/span>is <\/span>yes, <\/span>she <\/span>discovered <\/span>something <\/span>profoundly <\/span>significant.<\/span><\/p>\n

Normally, <\/span>for <\/span>a <\/span>woman <\/span>in <\/span>her <\/span>condition, <\/span>approaching <\/span>Jesus <\/span>publicly <\/span>was <\/span>unthinkable\u2014<\/span>her <\/span>illness <\/span>made <\/span>her <\/span>ceremonially <\/span>unclean (<\/span>see <\/span>Leviticus <\/span>15:<\/span>25-<\/span>27). <\/span>To <\/span>reach <\/span>out <\/span>and <\/span>touch <\/span>even <\/span>the <\/span>hem <\/span>of <\/span>His <\/span>garment <\/span>was <\/span>bold <\/span>to <\/span>the <\/span>point <\/span>of <\/span>recklessness. <\/span>That\u2019s <\/span>why <\/span>she <\/span>did <\/span>it <\/span>secretly, <\/span>without <\/span>telling <\/span>anyone, <\/span>even <\/span>when <\/span>Jesus <\/span>asked, \u201c<\/span>Who <\/span>touched <\/span>me?\u201d <\/span>she <\/span>feared <\/span>to <\/span>admit <\/span>it, <\/span>because <\/span>she <\/span>knew <\/span>the <\/span>possible <\/span>consequences: <\/span>rejection <\/span>or <\/span>rebuke.<\/span><\/p>\n

But <\/span>Jesus\u2019 <\/span>response <\/span>was <\/span>remarkably <\/span>different. <\/span>Instead <\/span>of <\/span>condemning <\/span>or <\/span>driving <\/span>her <\/span>away, <\/span>He <\/span>said, \u201c<\/span>Take <\/span>heart, <\/span>daughter; <\/span>your <\/span>faith <\/span>has <\/span>made <\/span>you <\/span>well.\u201d <\/span>Notice <\/span>the <\/span>tender <\/span>affirmation\u2014<\/span>He <\/span>honors <\/span>even <\/span>the <\/span>faintest <\/span>thoughts <\/span>and <\/span>hopes <\/span>that <\/span>are <\/span>sincerely <\/span>directed <\/span>toward <\/span>Him. <\/span>This <\/span>reveals <\/span>a <\/span>deep <\/span>truth: <\/span>faith, <\/span>even <\/span>small <\/span>and <\/span>vulnerable, <\/span>is <\/span>powerful <\/span>and <\/span>precious <\/span>to <\/span>Christ.<\/span><\/p>\n

Today, <\/span>many <\/span>people <\/span>wrestle <\/span>with <\/span>doubts <\/span>and <\/span>discouragement, <\/span>often <\/span>silenced <\/span>by <\/span>their <\/span>own <\/span>conscience <\/span>or <\/span>by <\/span>the <\/span>opinions <\/span>of <\/span>others. <\/span>Good <\/span>ideas <\/span>for <\/span>serving <\/span>God <\/span>can <\/span>wither <\/span>inside <\/span>because <\/span>people <\/span>think <\/span>they <\/span>must <\/span>be <\/span>clergy <\/span>or <\/span>have <\/span>special <\/span>titles <\/span>to <\/span>make <\/span>a <\/span>difference. <\/span>But <\/span>the <\/span>truth <\/span>is, <\/span>God <\/span>values <\/span>every <\/span>faithful <\/span>thought <\/span>and <\/span>effort, <\/span>no <\/span>matter <\/span>how <\/span>small <\/span>or <\/span>seemingly <\/span>insignificant.<\/span><\/p>\n

You <\/span>may <\/span>not <\/span>be <\/span>a <\/span>pastor, <\/span>prophet, <\/span>evangelist, <\/span>or <\/span>teacher\u2014<\/span>but <\/span>that <\/span>does <\/span>not <\/span>diminish <\/span>the <\/span>importance <\/span>of <\/span>what <\/span>you <\/span>can <\/span>do <\/span>for <\/span>God. <\/span>If <\/span>you <\/span>have <\/span>a <\/span>vision <\/span>to <\/span>share <\/span>God\u2019s <\/span>Word, <\/span>write <\/span>encouraging <\/span>messages, <\/span>or <\/span>even <\/span>display <\/span>Scripture <\/span>in <\/span>your <\/span>community, <\/span>don\u2019t <\/span>lose <\/span>heart. <\/span>The <\/span>same <\/span>God <\/span>who <\/span>healed <\/span>the <\/span>bleeding <\/span>woman <\/span>values <\/span>your <\/span>willingness <\/span>to <\/span>serve <\/span>with <\/span>a <\/span>sincere <\/span>heart.<\/span><\/p>\n

Perhaps <\/span>you <\/span>feel <\/span>called <\/span>to <\/span>create <\/span>a <\/span>garden <\/span>for <\/span>your <\/span>church, <\/span>to <\/span>start <\/span>a <\/span>recording <\/span>studio <\/span>for <\/span>testimonies, <\/span>or <\/span>to <\/span>give <\/span>generously <\/span>of <\/span>your <\/span>resources <\/span>for <\/span>the <\/span>sake <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>gospel. <\/span>Do <\/span>it\u2014<\/span>regardless <\/span>of <\/span>how <\/span>others <\/span>may <\/span>respond. <\/span>Jesus <\/span>notices <\/span>and <\/span>blesses <\/span>those <\/span>acts <\/span>of <\/span>faith <\/span>and <\/span>love.<\/span><\/p>\n

Remember, \u201c<\/span>At <\/span>the <\/span>hem <\/span>of <\/span>Jesus\u2019 <\/span>garment <\/span>is <\/span>healing <\/span>and <\/span>ministry.\u201d <\/span>Don\u2019t <\/span>ignore <\/span>those \u201c<\/span>small\u201d <\/span>ideas <\/span>or <\/span>gentle <\/span>promptings <\/span>that <\/span>come <\/span>to <\/span>your <\/span>mind <\/span>for <\/span>His <\/span>sake. <\/span>Carry <\/span>them <\/span>out <\/span>with <\/span>a <\/span>pure <\/span>heart, <\/span>and <\/span>God <\/span>will <\/span>delight <\/span>in <\/span>your <\/span>service.<\/span><\/p>\n

As <\/span>the <\/span>book <\/span>of <\/span>Revelation <\/span>reminds <\/span>us:<\/span><\/p>\n

Revelation <\/span>22:<\/span>12 (<\/span>ESV):<\/span><\/strong>
\u201c<\/span>Behold, <\/span>I <\/span>am <\/span>coming <\/span>soon, <\/span>bringing <\/span>my <\/span>recompense <\/span>with <\/span>me, <\/span>to <\/span>repay <\/span>each <\/span>one <\/span>for <\/span>what <\/span>he <\/span>has <\/span>done.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

So, <\/span>take <\/span>heart. <\/span>Your <\/span>faith <\/span>matters. <\/span>Your <\/span>service <\/span>matters. <\/span>God <\/span>sees, <\/span>rewards, <\/span>and <\/span>honors <\/span>every <\/span>step <\/span>you <\/span>take <\/span>toward <\/span>Him.<\/span><\/p>\n

Shalom.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n