Today our good friend and guest blogger, Amy Prather, shares with us about bold moves in faith. — Trey
Bold Faith – Amy Prather
I was putting up Halloween decorations the other day in my front yard. This woman came walking up the sidewalk toward me.
“Hello, my name is Mary.”
“Hello,” I said, thinking she was a neighbor, “my name is Amy.”
“I’ve got some beautiful fall wreaths in my truck I’d like for you to look at,” she said.
“Thanks, I appreciate it, but our family’s funds are really tight right now. Really tight. I would, but I’m not going to be able to buy anything,” I said. “Good luck with it though.”
She said thanks and began to walk away. She stopped, turned around and said some of the boldest words ever, “Amy, do you believe in the power of prayer?”
Read Luke 8:42b-48.
Ok, so imagine the scene. Jesus is preaching, teaching and healing throughout the country. Massive crowds are being drawn to the man who must have had the most magnetic personality ever.
Imagine the most crowded place you’ve ever been, multiply that by three, add in the smells of a mass of unwashed people, dust, animals, trash. So many people that I imagine the disciples formed a ring around Jesus, a wall of bodies to protect the Savior. The Bible says the crowds “almost crushed him.” Ever seen a paparazzi mob scene with celebrities? I think even the biggest crush of people I’ve ever been in or seen can’t be compared with the crowds who were clamoring for Jesus. He was bringing hope. Not celebrity, not points at a ballgame, not the latest fashion. Hope. And the world was desperate for it.
So, you’ve got the mass of people that Jesus and the disciples are trying to wade through. People are yelling, elbows are flying, children getting trampled. And in the midst of this a woman touches Jesus’ cloak. The moment she touches his cloak he feels it. He feels the healing flow into her body and out of his.
This may seem astonishing to you, until you look into the history. Women in ancient times were considered property. You could beat your wife with no repercussions; you could have your wife killed for certain crimes. Women were put on earth solely to serve man and make babies. That’s it.
So here’s this woman. She has been bleeding for 12 years. For Jews this was really bad. No one could be associated with this woman. She was “ceremonially unclean.” For 12 years she couldn’t worship, couldn’t participate in festivals, couldn’t be around anyone. Twelve years. She was probably craving human touch, a hug, a friend. But because of the law she could have none of those things.
I imagine she’s sitting in the doorway of her house and the massive crowd begins to pass by her. She asks what’s happening and someone tells her a rabbi with miraculous powers is coming. She knows deep in her soul that this man can help her. He is her answer.
So she begins making her way through the crowd, the massive horde of people. Stumbling, falling, getting stepped on, people pushing her aside – yet she still continues undaunted, overcome by the feeling that this man – Jesus – can change her life. Boldly she fights on until she gets to the edge of the disciples. The people are crushing in around her. She stretches out her hand and manages to touch the edge of his cloak and is healed. She knew that all it would take was a brush of her hand against his cloak.
Bold, so bold! This bleeding woman boldly went after what would make her whole.
Just like the woman in the Bible, Mary did one of the bravest things I’ve ever seen. She stepped out in faith that it would be OK for her to ask if she could pray with me. She did. She stopped everything and prayed with me in my front yard for five minutes. She had no idea who I was, if I believed, if I would spit in her face or tell her she was going to hell. She stepped out in bold faith. Not only did she bless me, but she now one of my “saints of the faith” that I look to as an example.
Simple words. Do you believe in the power of prayer?
Simple actions. Touching a cloak.
Bold faith.
May you be “filled with Holy Spirit” and speak “the word of God boldly.” Acts 4:31
