Somebody Touched Me!

She did it again.  This woman.  This marvelous woman that the Lord Jesus Christ saw fit to put in my world.  

It was a couple of weeks ago at Card Ministry.  My back was hurting and for some unknown reason (because I really don’t like folks to touch me much--it makes me feel all funny inside), as I stood beside her, I asked her to rub it. Without hesitation, she did.  And it wasn’t just one of those quickie-okay-I’ll-rub-your-back-for-one-minute-rubs.  No sir.  This lady proceeded to gently but firmly place her warm hand where I had shown her it hurt, and continued to make circles on my aching body until I let her know that that was good.

I didn’t think much about it until a week or so ago, when Steve and I were doing our Fruit of the Spirit study.  The word “kindness” came up and I immediately remembered this act that had been performed on me.  If you’re thinking to yourself at this point “What is the big deal, Stef?  Plenty of people have rubbed my back before and you don’t see me writing to tell the world.” then I would like you to take a moment and consider this verse from Matthew 8:3:

Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

While not a leper, many folks don’t touch me.  I guess it’s the aura I put out and most of the time it’s fine.  I mean sure, I get those friendly hugs as one circulates through the congregation at church from a few sweet women and occasionally from an older man.  The ones from the kiddos sure are sweet!  

I still didn’t think of it as such a big deal until on one of those Sundays, another lady approached me to shake my hand but...I could tell she was just doing it to be nice.  What she wanted to really do was get a hold of the woman beside of me and embrace her lovingly.  Her words of “My day just isn’t complete without a hug from you!” made my heart feel a pang as I thought “This woman doesn’t give me hugs!”  For some reason, it really bothered me.  Thus, the night Steve and I studied kindness, the back rub came back to mind.

What is it about the human touch?  That feeling of warmth that spreads through your whole body when another human being shares a part of self to connect with you?  Those random pats on the backs and shoulders?  The hearty handshakes when you can tell someone is really glad to see you? The oh-so-sweet gentle kisses on a cheek or the top of your head that seem to come from one who instinctively seems to know just how badly you needed that?

Jesus knew all about them.  That’s why He so freely gives them, gives of Himself.  He knows many of us feel unworthy, unlovable, unaccepted.  Many of the miracles He performed on others resulted first in Christ Jesus touching that one who was infirmed, making a connection, and showing His compassion.  Leper, blinded men, the deaf--all of these wounded felt the healing touch of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  The ones most people had already rejected were healed by the Great Physician.  

So, back to my friend.  Did she have any clue what her rubbing of my back meant to me?  Probably not.  I’m sure many folks ask things of her that she freely gives without thinking twice about them.  That’s her nature:  to give of herself.  That’s Christ’s nature, exhibited in this dear soul and in so many of you.  So, the next time opportunity presents itself, reach out and touch someone.  Oh surely, though, do it in a helpful way and not a kick in the rear as many need (in our humble estimations) or a punch in the face as many are wont to do in today’s society.  You probably won’t realize how effective and powerful that simple kind gesture is but I daresay you will impact a life more than for the few seconds your touch lingers on them.

Let’s pray!

Dear Father, how I thank You for touch.  The sense of another soul reaching out without fear to share love is one of Your most wonderful gifts!  

Thank You for the example Your Son Jesus modeled for me.  May I use my fingers, my hands, and my light kisses on cheeks to bless others and remind them that You care about them even more than I do.  In the precious name of Jesus I pray this:  amen.

Keep Your Hands to Yourself!

James 4:1Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin. 

1 Corinthians 10:13No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

Don't touch that!

The toddler thinks about reaching for the button on the tv stand, hears these words, gives a mournful look at the voice speaking, and turns back to the tv.  His hands are twitching as they fight to obey.

Make the right choice, sweetie.

He looks back at the adults again, sees the seriousness in their eyes and also that they are both agreeing that he is to not touch those buttons, those oh-so-tempting buttons.  Reluctantly, he pulls his hand backward and places it behind his back.  The adults applaud, praising him for making the right move, staring at each other in amazement that this gesture just took place.  The child is delighted to have pleased them.  

But then...

That tv stand is still there.  It's such a shiny button.  Surely it couldn't hurt to touch it just...

Don't you even think about it comes the reprimand as his hand started to go forward.  Again, there's that voice of those holding him accountable that shows no mercy in letting up on this desire of his.  Even though he thinks they can't see him because he's facing another way, he realizes the supervision never seems to stop.

So, he cocks his head and smiles winsomely, claps his hands in approval that yes, he is making the right choice, and he turns his back on the tv, crawls away from it, and finds another toy to entertain himself with.

The adults smile and go on about their business, again tickled with the remarkable wisdom of this baby boy, when somehow, somehow he has twisted himself to being in front of the tv again, and there's that temptation, just sitting there, shining at him, and...

And he puts his other hand behind his back--without being told this time--and one can almost see the tiny little wheels turning in his mind as he surely must be thinking that he isn't going to fall for it this time. Talk about not letting your right hand know what your left is doing, huh?  No sir:  he doesn't have to be fussed at.  The decision is made.  He is going to do the right thing without being reminded to do so.  He has overcome the temptation of the shiny buttons!  Woo hoo!

Oh, if only it were so easy for us big people to learn this discipline, to put our hands behind our backs so that we too cannot reach forward to the shininess of temptations.  If only we had someone continually monitoring us, reminding us that this is not only forbidden but also potentially harmful, and we too should flee from this lust.  If only we had constant praise when we did the right thing, and the sense to keep our hands from touching what is not meant for us to touch.  If only we could keep our focus on the good, the right, the true, the acceptable things meant to bring us hope and pleasure.  If only those buttons weren't there, just waiting to be pushed, explored, felt.

Friends, be careful this season.  There are many shiny things out there to tempt us to spend more than we have.  There are many sparkly things that invite us to imbibe, just once, "since it's the holidays."  There are many devices that can be ignited with just the touch of a finger.  There is also the wonder of if you do mess up, does anybody really care?  Surely you aren't being watched by two busybodies who are only looking out for your "best interests."  Right?  And so what if you push a button--or two?  Who besides yourself does it really hurt?  

Ahem.  I'm not going to answer that because I think you already know the response.  Instead, right this moment, I am going to pray for you, for me, and ask God to help us to resist temptation, to flee from it when necessary, and to keep our eyes glued to the "whatsoevers" of the Bible, that are true, noble, pure, right, lovely, admirable, and of good report.  Will you pray with me?

Ahh, Lord, as You so often do, You teach me simple lessons in the baser things of life.  If I just concentrate on what is around me, I see the ways I too can be childlike in my growth and how easily Lord I can be put on the right track when I just keep my hands from reaching for things that they have no business touching.

Father?  This season is tough for so many and thus our guards aren't always up.  We get selfish when the attention is on others and we are left out of the playrooms.  We get stiff when we see others enjoying things that they probably don't deserve as much as we think we do.  We get resentful when people don't include us and so we act out.  We do things that can bring harm and future consequences that we just don't want to think about right now because sometimes, sometimes we just wanna be bad.  We wanna do the wrong thing.  We want some attention and sometimes this seems the only way to get it.

Oh Lord!  How in need of You we are!  How in need of You to fill those holes in our hearts that seem to throb and ache this time of year especially.  So, will You?  Will You pull us closer to You?  Will You whisper in our ears that these things aren't good for us but that resting in Your arms is?  Yeah, there are those of us who will resist that still small voice because it doesn't demand.  And like the stupid little sheep that we can often be, we want to be told what to do.  When no one takes this step, we feel unnoticed and uncared for.  In the light of day and in the truth of Your Word, we know this is just one of Satan's tricks.  Help us to be wise, to be wary, and to be worshipful.  May our attention be on You and the wonders You have created for us is my plea today.  May our arms extend to You and to Your Word instead of to the world?

Thank You for all You have done and all that You will do.  I love You so much, God!  Thanks for loving me too--even when my back is turned and I feel like You are too busy elsewhere to notice me.  I know this is not so!  

In the name of Jesus I pray.  Amen.