All or Nothing

The smallest, dirtiest part of Jesus’ clothing was sufficient for one woman.

Matthew 9.18-38

Reference: v.21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” (NIV Bible)

Explore: Moderation is something I struggle with. I’m an ‘all or nothing’ kind of person. If I’m on a diet then I eat only healthy food and exercise heaps, and yet when I’m not on a diet I’m totally lazy and eat 24/7! When I have a task to do I think and talk about it constantly until it is completed. When I start something new I use all my spare time trying to grasp every intricate detail and jump at the chance of talking to someone about it. It’s an ‘all or nothing’ world for me.
When it comes to my faith I am all in. I believe that as Christians we are commited to Christ at all times, it’s not something we can switch off and on depending on the day or our particular activities. However, when it comes to our understand of God it can’t be an ‘all or nothing’ situation. God is so huge, so diverse and so immense that we will never fully understand all things about Him. He does not reveal Himself to us in our timing but in lots of small ways in His own time.
The woman who had been ‘subject to bleeding’ knew that she didn’t need to know absolutely everything about Jesus for Him to heal her. She believed that He didn’t need to touch her, He didn’t need to look at her, He didn’t even need to acknowledge her presense and yet she would be healed by just touching his cloak. She knew just the smallest, dirtiest part of Jesus’ clothing was sufficient for her. Here I am wanting every single detail, every understanding, every diverse aspect of God and yet this woman was content in knowing that the very least Jesus could offer her was enough.

Application: What is enough for you? Do you need a lighting bolt everytime God communicates with us? Do you need the choirs of angels to sing a 10-piece harmony every time God’s presence is around? Sometimes I find it hard to be content with what I have. I guess that’s where our faith comes in. We need to have faith that God knows what is best for us and that He will keep His promise to always be there for us. Where can we hide from God? If we go to the highest mountain, He is there; if we go to the depths of the valley, He is there also. Even the smallest part of God is sufficient for each of us.

Prayer: Lord, You are so huge, it’s hard to comprehend. Thank you for loving your simple servant. May I experience you in every aspect of each day. Amen.

Matthew