Faith and Virtue

In Mark 5:25-34 a certain woman had an issue of blood for twelve years. We are all individuals in the eyes of God.

She had a problem. She was trying to stay alive. What made this even worse was in her physical dilemma she was also wandering around in discouragement because no Doctor could help her, and she spent all of her money. Physically ill, broke ( no money) and discouraged. I know what it is like to be so sick and helpless. Thank the Good Lord that we serve a God that deeply cares for us.

She had no control over her issues. Sound familiar? What do we do when we have to sit in a hopeless dilemma? Stay discouraged or have faith in Jesus Christ. God puts us in these dilemmas on purpose. We are then forced to make a decision.

Since we are so close to the rapture, this particular scenario has been taking place at an increasing rate because Jesus Christ does not have much time to do what He wants to accomplish with His children.

After twelve years Jesus Christ was walking through her home town, and in desperation she plunged her way through the crowd and touched His garment. God sees our discouragements. "Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." 1st Peter 5:7.

I like it when the Bible says, " For she said, if I may touch His clothes, I shall be whole." The word "may" implies a possibility. She understood the authority that Jesus Christ had/has because many people were getting healed through Him.

All things are possible through Jesus Christ wherever we are, if it is in keeping with His will for our life.

She understood that anything was possible through Jesus Christ. Not only could this certain woman see the possibilities, but she used the word "whole" which means completion. Keep in mind she was probably in despair for twelve years. Faith in Jesus Christ rather than discouragement is always the answer. God lets us despair so we will turn to Him in faith. Most people choose sin as opposed to belief in God. This is our free will. When God puts me through a testing period, there always seems to be that space of choice. I can choose good or evil.

The Bible says, she felt in her body a healing taking place. Her faith in Jesus Christ changed her discouragement (a broken person) into healing (a whole person).

Our Lord Jesus Christ and the woman knew at the same time that a healing took place. "And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that virtue had gone out of Him"...Mark 5:30. When a true transaction of moral excellence and righteousness takes place from God to man, both will know.

Notice there was interest among both parties. The woman, " Felt in her body" and Jesus asked," Who touched my clothes? " God desires to be good to His children and to express His virtue in our spirit. Peter says..."Add to your faith virtue"...2nd Peter 1:5. I can see why after reading this story.

This does not have to happen in a physical healing. We could have a mental, emotional or circumstantial problem. Through our faith God will express His virtue, because He is good by nature.This is what God desires to do.

He asked a second time," Who touched me? " All those people were around our Savior and Jesus was interested in two things. Who did my goodness go into and where is this person? Remember virtue left Jesus, went into the woman and healed her.

As Jesus Christ looked around they both met face to face. Jesus Christ really does desire to meet us face to face. He wants our full attention. When God advances us to this level through His goodness we will feel compelled to tell Him the truth.The Bible says, "The woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before Him and told Him all the truth." Mark 5:33.

That sounds like how we are going to relate to Jesus Christ after the rapture of the Church. We will be in the presence of His Goodness and giving an account of our life.

The Goodness of God with fear and trembling in the same story. When she experienced the Goodness of God, fear and trembling took place in her life with complete honesty about her past.

Even if the most hardened skeptics read this story, they could not possibly get around the woman's faith, unless these people feel the account is some kind of a fairy tail.

Faith is the vehicle to the grace of God." For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should boast." Eph.2:8-9. Jesus told her, " Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole."If this certain women did not step out in faith, she probably never would have experienced the virtuous healing of Jesus Christ in her body. We need to trust God. There is no mathematical substitution for this biblical principle.

God will not allow anybody to approach Him through intellect. He knows more than we do. A five year old child could understand simple belief in Jesus Christ; however a 70 year old elder might get confused.

When all this was said and done Jesus said, " Go in peace, and be whole of thy plague." Jesus wanted her to be at peace. God desires us to walk in peace because Romans 15:33 says, " Now the God of peace be with you all."

Peter tells us to seek peace and ensue it. God allows us to war through all these problems because when we get peace and walk in it, we won't take it for granted.The fallen angels did in eternity past.They had peace in Heaven and chose war. There is something about being in turmoil and experiencing the peace of God.

If anyone reading this article did not accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, know that He is good by nature, only having your best interest in mind.The more we step out in faith, the more God will grant His virtue to us. I cannot help but think that one of the reasons so many Christians are looking forward to the rapture is because they will meet Jesus Christ face to face and see how good our Savior is, and experience His virtue.

Bob D.