S)"25 A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, 26 and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse— 27 after hearing about Jesus, she came up in the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak."
Mark 5:25-27 (NASB)
O) Twelve years is a long time to deal with an illness. This sort of thing would condemn some one as perpetually unclean, also. In that time, with medical "science" being something of a crap shoot, I can only imagine the crazy nonsense this woman must have endured to try and cure her disease. Finally, hearing of Jesus, she determines to try this way and lo - she's healed. The remarkable thing that this story represents is the concept that God is our last resort. For this woman, she was trying things for 10 years or so, before Jesus even perfomed any miracles. So, her options were obviously limited. Christians, however, obviously know who Jesus is, and that He heals the sick (even today, as He doesn't change, Hebrews 13:8), and yet we will spend a lot of time and resources trying to do things without Him, still, and end up coming to God only as a last resort - even though He was available to us upon our faith in Him.
A) I sometimes feel guilty about this, but I think there's an important element I need to remember - attrition. You know how things are always found in the last place you look? God must see it the same way. He knows He'll be my last resort, because after I come to Him, the problem will be solved (any problem). The real issue then isn't whether or not He's my last resort, but whether or not He's my first resort. My first response, my first instinct with any issue, needs to be to come before the LORD with it. I know there will be plenty of times where I will still have other things to do in order to see the problem resolved, but God will at least give direction, so that I'm not subjecting my time, money, energy, or even body, to pointless, fruitless, and futile attempts at fixing problems.
P) Father, You are so good to me. You hold the answers to every problem I could ever face and Your wisdom is indominable. Help me trust in Your instruction. Holy Spirit, remind me to seek the Father's will with every difficulty that comes my way, whether financial, health, relational, or any other. Give me clarity to know His will and courage to carry out his direction. Thank You for being my last resort and help me to make You my first resort as well. In Your name, I pray. Amen.
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