Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1913-08-02

characters in the
gospel this nameless woman is the
most touching, and her attitude
toward Jesus, his treatment of her, and
the gracious results serve as encour-
agement to anyone who doubts his tit
ness for approach to Christ or his wor-
thiness to receive anything from
Christ.
1t is the story of miracle by the
way. Jesus had been requested by
Jairus to come to his house and heal
his daughter. AS he was going on his
way and much people followed him
and thronged him, a certain woman,
seriously ill for twelve years, suffering
many things of many physicians. and
growing worse instead of better, came
in the crowd about Jesus and touched
the hem of his garment She was a
great sufferer from her disease and
disappointment.
Recognition.
Jesus noticed her touch: And Jesus
Immediately knowing in himself that
virtue had gone out of him, turned
him about in the press. aud said, Who
touched my clothes?" He knows the
slightest movement of the soul toward
himself, he feels the burdens we bear,
for ne is touched with feeling of our
infrmities. Like the father in Luke
Is he goes out to meet the returning
wanderer. What an encouragement il
is to the sinner to realize this ap-
proachableness and responsiveness of
the great Savior. Sometimes we are
in doubt about the character and love
of God, but every revelation of the ten
! derness, compassion and thoughtful
/ ness of Jesus is also a revelation of
! the fact that God is like him. He
! knows our reaching out after him: let
| us be sure of that. Il waited patiently
| for the Lord, and he inclined unto me
and heard my cry" Get close to Jesus
! in love and faith, and touch him. His
heart and love and power will respond.
| 1.-The healing of his seamless dress
| Is by our beds of pain;
We touch him in life's throng and press
And We are whole again"
Jesus rewards the woman, though
she had mistaken ideas about his
character and his work; but one thing
she knew-she was sick and there was
healer; she touched him and that
brought blessing and benediction. Je-
sus did not stop to raise questions as
to her character or criticise her fol-
her conduct He responded to the
t.L 81 -.
the woman, And said unto her
Daughter, thy faith hath made thee
whole; go in peace, and be whole OF
thy plague" The story shows that
faith is personal allegiance to a per
sonal Christ. Many of us need sim
pier ideas and teaching about saving
faith. Christ saves, not creed
Christ saves, not a church; although
creed and church are important ant
must find their place in the life Of thu
saved sinner. The woman got mor'
than she asked; the experience o
every believing, loyal. trusting soul is
MY cup runneth over"
Confession.
Who touched me? Christ waits 70
the answer, although the disciples salt
unto him, Thou seest the multitude
thronging to thee. and sayest thou
who touched me-" And Jesus wait
until the woman tells him all the trutl
and goes away not only with heale,
body but with her sins forgiven an
the affectionate approval Of Jesus
There Is a vast difference betwee
thronging about Christ and touchin
him; the supreme thing is to get a
him. Having received blessing fror
Christ it is our duty to make his Wi
our life and to confess him before otf
ers. because we love him and becaus
we want to help others.
Has there been disease, disappoin
ment, despair in your life? Reach on
and touch Jesus. Think of his powe
until you say, God can save; think &
mis- love until you can say, God wi
save: then the touch of faith VT
bring a change-conscious, complete
! confessed. Jesus meets the peculia
need of each soul: pardon to the pen
tent, Justification to the guilty, clean
ing to the impure. You should com
, to him waiting for nothing; so comm
Christ will receive you. Gods nero
is greater than all the sins Of th
, world; there is salvation for you
you will have 1t.
"she only touched the hem of his ga
ment
, As to his side she stole:
Amid the crowd that gathered arour
him.
And straightway she was made Who'll
Oh, touch the hem OF his garment
!, And thou, too shalt be free;
HIS saving power this very hour
Shall give new life to thee"
can the fitness he requires
n. To feel your need of him"