Faith is a Verb

^{And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.
Matthew 9:20-22}
 

Have you ever taken that step, into that foggy space you couldn’t see, somehow just knowing He was there, knowing that God was there ….  And He was.

When faith goes from believing to knowing, doing is soon to follow.
 
The dictionary classifies the word “faith” as a noun but I would venture that faith – is really a verb.
 
Faith: 
Faith is awesome. Faith is reassuring. For Christians, faith is vital.  But faith, as described here is passive, it’s docile, it’s… well, where’s the energy, the movement in this faith?

Wow, this poor woman Matthew is telling us about in today's scripture.  If we can just chat for a minute ladies – can you imagine her suffering and discomfort?  I mean 12 years!?  Bless her heart.
 
But Matthew is leaving part of the story out.  It’s not just about her suffering from her condition; she also suffered because of her condition.  
 
The Jewish people had very strict Old Testament laws and rituals about a woman with her condition. [ref. Leviticus 15:19-30] She was “unclean”, everything she touched was unclean, and everyone that touched her was unclean.  And because of this, she was most likely shamed, shunned and cast out, not only by her peers but very likely even by her family.
 
 

She hears about this man, Jesus.  This man, that is going around and healing people; lame are walking, blind are seeing.  Could these stories be true? Could this man Jesus heal her?  

She believes.

And for probably the first time in 12 years she finds something that she had lost... hope.
 
She believed just touching the hem of His garment would heal her.
 

If there was going to be a chance to see Him, it was now.  He was in her village.  She had to go to Him. But she was unclean, He couldn’t possibly touch her to heal her because then He would also become unclean. Could just touching his cloak heal her?

She believes.

And for maybe the first time in many years she goes out in public with... expectation.
 
She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment.
 

He turned to see her. In that crowd, the noisy begging encroaching crowd, each vying for His attention; He looked right past them and saw her, there at His feet.  He knew her.  He knew her body’s condition and He knew her heart's condition. He knew her faith.

He knew she believes.

And she was... restored.

Oh sisters, there is such hope for us!  Hope in this Son of God.  Hope for our healing from years of suffering, hope for our restoration from shame and exile.
 
He is here, He knows each one of us, He knows our circumstances and he knows our hearts.
 
And He is waiting, waiting for our faith to grow from believing to doing, waiting for us to come to Him, to touch His garment.  And He is waiting to tell us, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.”


Father God, oh forgive us for our lack of faith. Forgive us for seeking answers and restoration on our own. Thank you for loving us anyway and for your amazing grace and mercy. Thank you for caring so much for us that you long for us to reach out to you. Help us to have the type of faith which moves us to action. In Jesus' name, amen.

Blessings Soul Friends, 

Read each of the following Scriptures, and ask what each has to reveal about active faith.

• Romans 2:13
• John 11:40
• Mark 2:5
• Luke 1:45

Bible Art Journaling Printable devo + artwork

Jana Kennedy Spicer is a born and raised Texas girl who has a heart for studying God’s Word and is passionate about encouraging women to do the same. She is the author of Let Your Light Shine: Being a Light in a Dark World; Praying For Revival; Inspiring Women: Who They Are and How To Be One and Gracious Words: Speaking with Kindness and Mercy; and the illustrator of the scripture based Garden of Life Coloring Book and Coloring the Scriptures.