Building One Another  

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. I Thessalonians 5:11

Touching Jesus!

Dear Friend,                          

Years ago, Harry Fifield, the then pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, told the New Testament story of the woman, who after suffering for many years, approached Jesus through a crowd. Upon touching his cloak, immediately she was healed.

Jesus asked, “Who touched me?” She fell at his feet and Jesus, speaking through her anxiety, told her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” Mark 5:34*

Harry let that sink in and then asked a question that changed my life and continues to speak to my heart, “Are you crowding Jesus or touching him?”

Are you one among the crowd, consumed by busyness, merely chatting with your friends, “Hi Bill, Hi Jenny, Hi Marty,” and or are you touching Jesus – connecting to the life-changing Jesus by means of your trust in and following of Jesus?

As one who has spent much of his life in the swirl of church life, I find Harry’s question helps me remain centered on the Lord who loves me, and it will help you, too

“Are you crowding Jesus or touching him?”

Joy to you - Stan

© Copyright 2020 E. Stanley Ott

Scripture from the ESV

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Are you "touching Jesus?" That is are you connecting with the Lord who loves you as you trust Jesus, as you follow him, as you introduce others to him?

If the "churched" are people of ordinary involvement in church life, the "unchurched" are people with no active involvement in a church, and the "over-church" are those who experience "church" without experiencing God, what has your experience been?

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Picture by Shutterstock: shutterstock_1541096519.