WEDNESDAY - Devotional

READ: Luke 8:43-48

(Answer the question/s below in your app notes)

• What has your faith brought you?

The cars lazily drove by the neighborhood Whole Foods in the middle of suburban Los Angeles. I had grabbed a snack before my Zoom meeting at noon and was walking to a nearby coffee shop. Suddenly, just as I was walking through the automatic doors, I noticed the group of people outside. Teenagers, young parents, and adults were all swarming one figure in the middle. Who was it? My nosiness got the best of me, and I inserted myself forward into the human tornado. I heard my answer before seeing it.

“LeBron! Sign my hat, please!” “LeBron, can you take a selfie with me?”

Sure enough, I saw the man’s head poking above the crowd, and I realized the star I was looking at was the iconic basketball legend LeBron James. I remember thinking how funny the whole scene looked. All the people were gathered around LeBron, desperate for acknowledgement. It was almost like the people thought that by being in proximity to the athlete, his talent or money or success would transfer to them.

There’s a story in the Bible that is kind of like fans swarming LeBron. Luke 8 tells the story of Jesus walking with a big group of followers. A woman who had been bleeding for twelve years was eager to just touch the hem of Jesus’ robe. She was so confident in his power that she believed just touching his clothing would heal her.

And she was right! She elbowed her way through the throngs of people surrounding Jesus, touched the bottom of his robe, and instantly was healed. But Jesus didn’t just keep walking. He stopped and asked, “Who touched me?” The disciples were confused— everyone was touching him. The crowds were pressing in from every direction. But Jesus knew this touch was different. This wasn’t curiosity or excitement. This was faith.

The woman fell at his feet and told him the whole truth. And instead of being annoyed or rushed, Jesus looked at her and said, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

That’s the difference between Jesus and every other “celebrity” we admire. LeBron can sign a hat or pose for a selfie, but Jesus sees people. And Jesus doesn’t only give us healing—he gives us peace, grace, and a new beginning.