Do you remember the game?

When you were a child, the game was somewhat innocent.

Unless you were a little audacious.

You know who you are–or maybe someone particular comes to mind when I say it.  There’s always that one person who willingly takes a dare–and he’s probably the same one who knows how to come up with some creative dares.

I was never really afraid to play the game because very seldom did I take the dare.  As a rule keeper, I knew my chances were much better answering the question truthfully than it would be to swallow hard and take some of the dares that were dealt.

The game isn’t so fun when you’re an adult, is it?  Making ourselves vulnerable to scrutiny is not exactly a game. Not one that any sober person would agree to play anyway.

Funny thing is, we all have things we would rather keep to ourselves.  Things we aren’t proud of.  Things that might embarrass us. Or maybe just things that we deal with alone.

But there is One who knows.

So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd was following and pressing against Him.  A woman suffering from bleeding for 12 years had endured much under many doctors.  She had spent everything she had and was not helped at all. On the contrary, she became worse.  Having heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His robe. For she said, “If I can just touch His robes, I’ll be made well!” Instantly her flow of blood ceased, and she sensed in her body that she was cured of her affliction.

At once Jesus realized in Himself that power had gone out from Him. He turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My robes?”

His disciples said to Him, “You see the crowd pressing against You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’”

So He was looking around to see who had done this. Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came with fear and trembling, fell down before Him, and told Him the whole truth.  “Daughter,” He said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace and be free from your affliction.  Mark 5: 24-34

I am fascinated by this woman whose name is not mentioned.  The woman who dared to step out in faith. The one who had suffered for twelve years. 

Until she touched Jesus.

Jesus, who was just passing by.  He was on a mission to save a little girl when He encountered this woman of desperation.

But He stopped.  When He realized that “power had gone out from Him”, He took the time to look her in the eyes.  To reassure her.  To call her His own.

Daughter.

Yes, Jesus had the power to heal, but it was her faith that brought the healing to fruition.  She could have just stood and watched as He passed by.  She might have even called out for mercy like so many had done before.

Instead, she took the steps of faith.

You can see it vividly now, can’t you?  I can.  In her desperation and complete faith in the One who could heal, she cast aside all doubt and fear and did everything she could to reach Him.

She dared to be brave.

And because she did it in faith, He healed her.

The one who dared to step out in faith met the One who knew the truth of her condition.

And he healed her.

The terrible physical condition she had dealt with for years had been the opportunity for her to meet Jesus.  The Son of God.

Wow.  What a powerful reminder for us today.

He knows our condition.  He knows our past, present and future and only He has the power to change a life.

But He wants us to step out in faith and encounter Him. Faith is a verb.  An action word.

We already know what He’s capable of…and yet,

Where is our faith?  Where is our boldness?

My faith dare today is to take this verse to heart:

Every day is a new beginning.  I’m pretty sure that woman didn’t wake up thinking that particular day was going to be any different that the last 4,380.  But meeting Jesus changed all of that.

Trusting Jesus changed all of that.

I’ve known the truth of this verse for a long time, but never really committed it to memory, so here it is–the Scripture Memory Challenge for Mark.  Won’t you join me in this commitment to hide God’s Word in my heart–

and believe it with all my heart?

I dare you!

If you enjoyed this post, you might also like:

Uninspired

About Being Brave