TEACHING: Clinging to the Truth of the Gospel

Sura is a Russian-speaking Jewish immigrant who began attending outreach events in Israel. She was not a believer but enjoyed the fellowship of gathering with others. She suffered from severe leg pain, but it never stopped her from coming to the events. One particularly difficult day, Sura could barely make it up the stairs to the church. The simple act of walking had become an immense challenge, and she had come to ask for prayer.

The Messianic believers in the Israeli congregation gathered around her. They told her that Yeshua (Jesus) wanted to heal her both physically and spiritually. They explained the Gospel, and Sura asked Jesus to be her Savior.

One of the congregation members noticed a red string around her wrist. He knew many people wore such things to ward off evil spirits. He told Sura that she no longer needed the prop. She could look to Yeshua for complete healing and salvation. She happily removed the string then prayed fervently to her new Savior. Later in the evening, Sura began to move around in her seat. She stood suddenly and shouted that her pain was gone and her leg completely healed! The entire room witnessed this miracle and praised God for His mercy.

This story reminds me of another. In Matthew 9:20 – 22 (NASB) we read:

And a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak; for she was saying to herself, ​“If I only touch His garment, I will get well.” But Jesus turning and seeing her said, ​“Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.” At once the woman was made well. (Bold emphasis mine.)

Faith is a challenging concept for many of us. The Bible says that faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we cannot see. This definition isn’t a formula for success or a prescription for hopelessness, but a powerful statement exemplified in the life of Jesus. He was sure that all of God’s promises would come to fruition and that humanity was worth dying for, even if the evidence was lacking. Sura’s experience can help us know and trust that the Lord cares about our needs, both physical and emotional.

Do you struggle with the unseen and uncertain? Or do you cling to the faith we have in Jesus Christ for the sacrifice He made so that we would have eternal life?

Allow me to encourage you with an unshakable truth. Jesus is alive and earnestly looking for those who will be faithful to Him. Your trust in the unseen will not go unrewarded. Remember what Hebrews 10:39 (NASB) declares:

But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.