April 19, 2024

Some years ago, I was doing some training with pastors and several who were hoping to become pastors. Each week, I would teach a lesson on leadership or how to be a good communicator. As a part of the training, each week I gave one of them a chance to preach a message, and we would all critique them, sharing both what we liked and how they could make it better. One night, a man spoke, who didn’t have a lot of Bible training, but felt he was a lot better than he was. When we offered critique, he had a hard time receiving it. He made one point of saying that Jesus never healed anyone without touching them. In the critique, I pointed out that it wasn’t true. I cited both our passage today and some others that I was aware of. The man got fairly agitated and said Jesus HAD to touch people to heal them.
“Had to.” That phrase took me back. I understood that he wanted to prove his point that Jesus was so compassionate and caring that touch would be a powerful expression. But to say Jesus “had to” touch someone to heal them was to both deny what the scripture clearly says and to misunderstand the power of the spoken word. Especially when it comes from the mouth of God!
Go back to Genesis 1. God spoke and light came into being. God spoke and the stars and the sky appeared. God spoke and our world and countless others were created. God spoke and life was born…WE were born. When God speaks, doors open, chains fall off, and seas part. When God speaks, demons flee, angels sing, and all creation bows before Him. When God speaks, sins are forgiven, healing happens, and lives are restored. God works in MANY ways accomplishing His wonders. But sometimes all He has to do is SPEAK.
I thought that would be a great prayer for us today. Where do YOU need God to move? Where do you need Him to work? Pray this short, powerful prayer. “God, speak. Speak to me and give me wisdom. Speak to my friend and melt their cold heart. Speak to my child and bring them back. Speak your healing. Speak your peace. Speak your grace. Speak in power and move the mountains that stand before me. You are awesome, Lord--mighty and unstoppable. You need not even lift your Hand to do a miracle in our midst. All we need you to do, Lord, is SPEAK.” That’s God’s Word for you today.