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He Touched Me

 He Touched Me

Matthew 8:1-4 – When he came down from the mountain, large crowds followed him. Right away a man with leprosy came up and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”Reaching out his hand, Jesus touched him, saying, “I am willing; be made clean.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. Then Jesus told him, “See that you don’t tell anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”
 
Matthew 8:1-4 is a powerful story, for it is my own. I too heard of this Jesus, I too followed him and listened to his teachings, and I too knew I was sick and unable to be well save for his will in my life. Then Jesus did more and abundantly more for me than I was worthy of: he touched me.
 
He did not have to do that, for I was unclean. He gently caressed my soul and at that very moment, I was made clean. Not of my ability, but by submission to His. And like the leper, I too have desired to speak and tell of that experience since Jesus did touch me- and I have not been silent since.
 
Written by: Bill Crawford
June 2022


The Power of Forgiveness

The Power of Forgiveness – Bill Crawford
 
Honestly, I’ve always struggled with forgiveness. It is alien to me. Yet as I grow a little older and realize just how little I deserve grace, it compels me to imitate Christ and forgive others. Holding a grudge means saying long after an offense, “I am hurt.” But forgiveness allows you to say, “I was hurt”. There is a huge difference.
 
Everyone has been burned, cut, bruised, or injured. But imagine never allowing a wound to heal to spite the one who dealt it to you. That’s what a grudge is. It’s refusing to heal until you get to inflict an injury on someone else. When I refuse to forgive others, I am condemning myself to re-live that pain every day until I forgive them.
 
Don’t delay! Don’t waste time and energy on a grudge that only hurts you. Forgive and be healed because Christ forgave you and is willing to heal you.


Your Life Can Be Redeemed!

Your life, no matter the mess it is in, can be redeemed by Jesus Christ!

“For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth;” Job 19:25