“Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ And immediately the leprosy left him.”

— Luke 5:13

Have you ever felt lonely or low on energy, aching for some rejuvenation, then someone came to you and patted you on the back or gave you a hug? If so, how did that simple touch affect you?

A touch can work magic. Touch is like a rainbow arcing up and over the distance between two people, drawing them nearer emotionally and spiritually. This happens in friendships; as we hug or shake hands, we feel a deeper connection and intimacy with our friends. Touching between married people rekindles love and stokes the fire of romance. God commanded man and woman to cleave to each other and become “one flesh,” knowing that oneness of mind and spirit begins with a touch.

Unfortunately, our society doesn’t allow much touching these days. We talk about staying in touch, about being in touch, about getting in touch, but these are figurative phrases, not physical realities. Children learn touching at a young age in their families, but as they grow, the rules of society teach them to keep their hands to themselves.

This is such a shame, because a touch can minister to the soul. Dr. Frederick Treves brought a young man to London who was suffering from a disease so hideous he was called “the elephant man.” One day a beautiful lady smiled at the elephant man and shook his hand. Because of this simple gesture, the elephant man burst into tears. No one had touched him or smiled at him since his mother’s death many years before.

Jesus touched people regularly, in many cases to minister healing. In the Gospels there are thirty-one occurrences of the term “touch,” as well as other terms indicating that Jesus held or touched people. He placed His hands upon blind eyes and dumb tongues; He placed his fingers on deaf ears; He touched the dead; He even touched a leper. And because of Jesus’ touch, people’s lives were forever changed.

Do you know someone who needs a simple touch today? All it takes is a simple handshake or a pat on the shoulder. Let us reach out, as Christ did, to touch and heal and restore.

“Nothing can build or rebuild an intense feeling
of love in a marriage as responsive touching,
reaching out to a responding partner.”
Dr. Ed Wheat

“So God looked upon the earth, and indeed it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted their way on the earth. And God said to Noah, ‘The end of all flesh has come before Me, for the earth is filled with violence through them; and behold, I will destroy them with the earth.’”

— Genesis 6:12-13

Have you ever been caught in a storm, terrified by the cracking of thunder and the flash of lightning? Imagine how the people of Noah’s day felt when the thunder crashed, the winds howled, and the water poured for days. The Flood was such a terrifying experience that it has remained forever etched in the memory of humankind. People all around the globe— from the Indians of Mexico to the inhabitants of the South Seas to the Eskimos of the Arctic— have included the story of this worldwide catastrophe in their oral and written histories.

We know that God decided to destroy the earth because the people were evil, but why did He decide to do it through a flood? Why did He decide to save Noah in an ark? God put these things in place as symbols. God wanted to preserve humankind and His truth from a flood of sin which covered the earth. He used a flood of water to wash away the flood of sin—the profanity, blasphemy, pornography, divorce, fornication, adultery, homosexuality, and perversion of every sort that covered the earth. God wanted to keep Noah safe from His wrath against sin, so He told Noah to build the ark. The ark was the only safe place in the world during this catastrophe.

Today the world is just as wicked as it was before the Flood, and God has told us He will destroy it again. God has promised that this time He will destroy it by fire. But in His mercy, He has provided another ark. This one isn’t made with human hands, but by God Himself. This ark is His only Son, Christ Jesus, whom He sent into the world. Christ is our ark of safety. He is the only place where we will stay safe when God releases the raging fire of His wrath. Once it starts, we’ll have no time to tell others to “come aboard.” So let us work as long as we can so that others might know that they can have safe passage to Heaven through Jesus Christ.

“There is only one ark of safety, and it has
only one door. That ark is Jesus Christ.”

“Having a form of godliness, but denying its power …”

— 2 Timothy 3:5

Have you ever done well in some big contest only to lose because you were disqualified on some seemingly minor point? During one of the most exciting baseball games of all time—the seventh game of the 1924 World Series between Washington and New York— something like this happened. In the bottom of the ninth with two outs and two strikes, Goose Goslin, batting for Washington, hit a home run—or so it seemed. Goslin made it safely to home plate, but Washington lost the entire World Series because as Goslin ran around the bases, he failed to touch first base. What a shock. And what a shame to lose a championship game because of a failure to follow a fundamental rule.

Sometimes this same sort of thing happens in churches. Some people who have been church members for years have never gotten to first base when it comes to Christianity. They’ve never been born anew. Somehow they thought they could skip that base and proceed to join a church, be baptized, be confirmed, participate in all the outward practices of religion, then make their way around the infield and head for home with a great welcome to follow. Instead, these people will hear these words from the Great Umpire, “I never knew you; depart from me” (Matthew 7:23). These people have a form of godliness, but they don’t have true godliness because they don’t know God. They don’t experience His power. They don’t allow Him to transform their lives. They find worshiping God a great burden, struggling to sit through church, to pray, or to read their Bibles. Sometimes these people continue practicing these forms of godliness to quiet the outward clamor of spouses, parents, or grandparents. Sometimes they do these things to quiet the inward clamor of their own consciences.

We all have to touch first base so that we might hear the Lord say to us: “Come you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you.” Do you know God? Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and do you enjoy an intimate relationship with Him? If not, touch that base today so that you might win the game and receive the prize—eternal life.

“A hypocrite is a fellow who isn’t himself on Sunday.”
Anonymous

“After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up.”

— Hosea 6:2

Have you ever watched the news or observed the people around you and wished that God’s almighty hand would sweep across this land, bringing everyone to Him? Many Christians today pray fervently for national revival. It can happen—the Bible gives us great examples of national revival from which we can learn …

Following the prosperity that Israelites enjoyed during Solomon’s reign, spiritual apathy set in. King Solomon died, and his rebellious son took over the throne. Hearkening to the council of his foolish compatriots, Solomon’s son brought disaster upon the land of Israel. Civil war ensued. The country divided into two lands—Israel, which included the Ten Tribes in the north, and Judah, which included the two tribes in the south.

In the land of Judah, national revival stopped the descent into apostasy five different times. These revivals stayed the hand of God’s discipline and prolonged the life of the country. In Israel, on the other hand, not one single national revival took place. Consequently, the Assyrian hordes attacked and led the Israelites into captivity with fishhooks in their lips; the Assyrians killed thousands of others in cruel ways. God’s wrath fell upon the disobedient people of Israel. But because of its revivals, Judah’s life extended about a hundred and fifty years.

Judah’s national revivals always consisted of three elements. First, the revivals were prompted by a crisis, generally a threat from some outside power such as Syria, Egypt, or Babylon. Second, in the midst of this crisis a prophet arose who spoke boldly to the issue at hand. Third, a godly king hearkened unto God’s Word and understood God’s reasons for the national crisis. The king then led the people in repentance and renewed godliness. These three elements never existed in the northern kingdom, so it was swept away into oblivion.

We need to pray for revival in our land. Today will you ask God to renew our country, drawing all people to Him?

“A true repentance shuns the evil itself more
than the external suffering or the shame.”
William Shakespeare

“Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”

— Matthew 22:21

Do you ever wonder how much you should involve yourself in political matters? At this time of year, this issue is particularly pertinent. So today I want to address the Christian’s obligation as a citizen.

Jesus declared, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” In this comment, Jesus identifies two spheres in which we must render our due responsibilities: the spiritual and eternal realm of the kingdom of God, and the kingdom of this world where we must render the things due to Caesar. For a long time, some quarters of the Church have held to a false piety that has resulted in refraining from all political involvement. As Christians have avoided the political realm, unbelievers have taken over the various spheres of influence in our society, such as education, the courts, and the legislatures. Thus, by abandoning the public spheres, Christians have effectively removed salt and light from our culture.

Although many Christians have recently involved themselves in the public sphere, we still have much ground to regain. And we still must confront a wrong attitude some Christians hold toward citizenship. A lady who works in one of our voting precincts said that the average voter turnout in her precinct is ten percent. I’m sure that quite a few Christians make up that ninety percent who don’t vote. I believe it’s a sin not to vote; voting is one way we can make a difference in our society, and we need to use it.

I encourage you to practice good Christian citizenship. Use the opportunities that come your way to make a difference in your town or city, in your state, and in your country. Be active as a citizen, rendering to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and do so in the name of the Lord.

“He who converts his neighbour has performed
the most practical Christian-political act of all.”
C.S. Lewis

“Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

— Matthew 28:19–20

Are you aware that we’re at war? But ours is a war of beliefs, not bullets. The spiritual conflict between Christ and the Devil is intensifying at home and abroad. We don’t necessarily fight against other nations so much as we battle against ourselves. America is engaged in a spiritual civil war. With all the evangelical radio and television ministries, you’d think that more Christians would join in the fight, but many Christians haven’t committed to do their parts to change our land. Others have heard that Christians shouldn’t concern themselves with political and social issues, so they don’t even register to vote. We read in Genesis 1:26 that God gave humans dominion over everything in the world. This has become known as the Cultural Mandate. To properly fulfill that mandate, we must participate in our local and national elections. (Let me say that I believe it’s a sin not to vote.) Have you registered to vote and exercised that avenue to make a difference for Christ?

We also need to stand up and speak about the truth God has given us. Jesus has called us to be salt and light in the world. We can’t fulfill that call if we stay within the walls of our churches. We need to touch the world around us. Jesus said that the well do not need a doctor; the sick do. He came to seek and save the lost and has called us to do the same. We can do this by praying for our nation. (Two men I know meet at 6:30 every morning to pray for the revival of our nation.) We also need to witness. We should hold as our first concern Christ’s last command—the Great Commission. We can change the direction of this country if we change ourselves and put forth the energy and dedication required to obey Christ’s commands. We all have a post in the great battle.

“Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war!
With the cross of Jesus going on before.”
Sabine Baring-Gould

“Who then is a faithful and wise servant …?”

— Matthew 24:45

How do we serve God? We serve God by serving each other. Jesus said that what we do for our fellow humans, we do for Him. He encourages us to visit the sick, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and house the homeless. He asks us to be hospitable and generous and to proclaim the Gospel.

Have you faithfully served the Lord by serving those around you? To learn more about serving God, consider one of God’s servants—Billy Graham. God used Billy Graham so mightily in our time. Why? Because Graham was the most brilliant theologian of our day? Probably not. Because he was the best speaker in America? Probably not. What was it about him, then? God used Billy Graham because Billy Graham was the kind of person God can trust to do His work.

Can God trust us? If He entrusts us with a task, will we do it? When God puts people in our way who need Him, do we minister to them faithfully?

In all areas of our lives, God wants us to be faithful. He wants us to faithfully serve our spouses, our children, and our parents. God wants us to be faithful to our Church and to the ministry He has given us to do. The Lord may ask us to accomplish a task of private or public nature, to one person or to many. But whatever we do for Him, let us do it steadfastly. Jesus said of the faithful servant in the parable of the two servants: “Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find [him working faithfully]” (Matthew 24:46). Ask God to show you how you can serve Him faithfully today.

“The task Thy wisdom hath assigned, O let me
cheerfully fulfill; In all my works Thy presence
find, And prove Thy good and perfect will.”
Charles Wesley

“He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name.”

— John 1:10-12

You’ve probably never had an encounter with a UFO (unidentified flying object), but thousands of people claim to have had such strange experiences. The reports of UFOs have been divided into three types: close encounters of the first kind—the sighting of UFOs, close encounters of the second kind—physical evidence for the presence of UFOs, and close encounters of the third kind—being kidnapped for short periods of time by beings who operate UFOs. You may doubt people who have claimed to have experienced such encounters, but there is another encounter about which you could have no question.

I’m talking about a close encounter of the fourth kind. It, like the others, began with a brilliant light in the sky that people followed until it finally stood still. The light drew attention to a Visitor from outer space who came to a small village on the other side of the planet two thousand years ago. This Being had a wisdom far beyond anything that we know. He had a power greater than any creature. But He was no alien. He came unto His own, and thousands of His own saw Him.

In fact, many of them claimed that He rose from the dead. Over five hundred people saw Him alive after His public crucifixion. The people who claimed to have this final earthly encounter did something which gives a credibility to their testimony not found in the testimony of modern close encounters. God, in His wisdom, saw to it that a persecution arose, and the people who encountered this Being suffered hardships, torture, and death specifically for claiming they had seen Him after His resurrection.

The mysterious thing about the close encounter of the fourth kind is that although it was an historical event, we can still experience it. Have you met with Jesus Christ today? Daily communion with the Lord of the universe is our close encounter of the fourth kind, the most precious part of our life.

“[Ours is] the visited planet.”
J. B. Phillips

“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

— Acts 2:42

“It is not good that man should be alone.” God knows this; He said it. God also knows that few things surpass being in a group of people with whom one really belongs. He knows we need that kind of relationship, and so He created it. On Pentecost Sunday two thousand years ago, He created a new kind of fellowship that had never existed in the world before. Scripture calls it “Koinonia,” the “family of God” or the “forever family.” The family of God includes all those who have invited Christ to make them new creatures and have experienced the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit. Everyone in the family bears the same name, Christian, and has the same Father in Heaven. This makes us all brothers and sisters in Christ. What a comforting reality to belong to such a group.

As members of God’s family, the Holy Spirit has bonded us together in many ways. Let’s think of some. We are equal heirs, and our inheritance is infinite and inexhaustible. We are believers; our hearts and minds share the same spiritual perception of the world. We are disciples; we all sit at the feet of one Master and learn our worldview from Him. We are witnesses; we share the special joy of leading people to Christ. We are soldiers; we share trials and triumphs and strengthen each other in faith. We are also a fellowship of slaves. Have you ever thought of that? During Roman times, a bond slave’s life and death were in his or her master’s hands. Paul delighted to call himself a bond slave of Christ, and we should view ourselves in the same light.

Do you realize how blessed you are to belong to such a wonderful family? Do you want God’s family to grow closer, stronger, and more loving? Today ask God to show you how to play your part in the family.

“Blest be the tie that binds our hearts in Christian love.
The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above.”
John Fawcett

“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’”

— Romans 1:17

While our culture sets this day aside as Halloween, I think a much more fitting event to celebrate happened on this day in 1517—the Reformation of the Church, when Martin Luther, a humble monk, made public ninety-five reasons the Church needed to reform. Luther knew how desperately the world and the Church needed to know we could gain grace only through faith. He dedicated his life to discovering and preaching this truth.

Luther was born November 10, 1483, into a poor family of German woodcutters. Realizing that their son was gifted, Luther’s parents scrimped and saved to send him to the university, where he studied law. Returning home from school on foot, he and a friend were caught in a thunderstorm and his friend was struck by lightning and killed. This terrified Luther and he vowed to enter a monastery so he could search for God. One question plagued him without ceasing: How could he, a sinful man, ever become pure enough to stand in the awesome presence of a holy God who was an all-consuming fire? Luther spent years trying every way he knew to purify his soul. He spent hours each day confessing his sins. He beat himself with a whip until he became bloody and unconscious. He prayed for six weeks, fasted, and slept very little. He stayed out all night long, naked, in the deep snows of Germany.

But one day the Lord spoke to him through the Scriptures, specifically Romans 1:17: “The just shall live by faith.” Suddenly Luther saw the Gospel. He discovered God’s grace. He realized that only those justified by faith in Christ’s blood will live and those who seek to justify themselves in any other way shall not live. Luther spent the rest of his life promoting and defending this truth. Even when he was on trial, faced with being burned at the stake, he clung fiercely to it. Justification by faith is still our great hope and joy.

“Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me! Amen!”
Martin Luther