FAMILY OF GOD CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

THE FIRST LADY’S PERSPECTIVE

Monthly Devotional –

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Touching the Needs of people; Jesus touched.

“To touch is to give life”

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Touch provides its own language of compassion, a language that is essential to what it means to be human.(“Hands On Research: The Science of Touch -

Greater Good”) https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/hands_on_research.

-Luke 7:14,   And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still.

And he said, young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

-Luke 5:13. And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou

clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.

— Matthew 20:30-34, Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they

heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on

us!” The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the

louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” Jesus stopped and called them.

“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. “Lord,” they answered, “we want

our sight.” Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately

they received their sight and followed him.

“In recent years, a wave of research studies has documented some incredible

emotional and physical health benefits that come from touch. This research is

suggesting that touch is truly fundamental to human communication, bonding, and

health.” (“Hands On Research: The Science of Touch - Greater Good”) (“Hands

On Research: The Science of Touch - Greater Good”)

https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/hands_on_research.

The act of touch “signals safety and trust in the individual being touched. It

can soothe and calm irritability and stress. It also allows the individual to trust the

basic act of touch, and its meaningfulness to connect. “Touch warms and calms

cardiovascular stress. "It activates the body’s vagus nerve, which is intimately

involved with our compassionate response." (“8 Reasons Why We Need Human

Touch More Than Ever”) A simple touch can trigger release of oxytocin, aka “the

love hormone. Michelangelo once said, “To touch can be to give

life,” (https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/hands_on_research .)

 

How profound is that! It is not surprising that Jesus, our creator, had foreknowledge of this simple act of touch rendering great benefits to humankind. It explains his

gracious acts of touching those in need of healing and care.

“Touch is indicative of compassion, and alludes to kindness, caring and empathy.”

(https://www.compassion.com/poverty/what-does-the-bible-say-about-

compassion.htm.)

 

Compassion equates to sharing and bearing the burdens of other

which leads to comprehension of the enduring touch of Christ. His touch can heal

the deepest hurt, brokenness,’ and pain. Touch allows us to connect to our greatest

source of Love, found in God, through Jesus Christ. I can vividly recall the

poignant song- “He touched me, and now, I am no longer the same…” What an

impressive melody that captures the remarkable change wrought in the life of those

touched by Jesus.

To touch is one of my greatest endeavors in life. I desire to be the hands of

Jesus in touching the needs of people. Remember, how he touched your life, land

the significant and impactful change that came from that touch. I believe that Jesus

desires that we, as his followers become instrumental in touching the lives of

others in similar manners. We can touch by loving others, giving compassion and

empathy, praying, providing a meal, visiting the sick, making a telephone call to

someone that is alone and lonely. There are numerous ways that we can touch

others. It would bring joy to Christ as we become his hands in “touching the needs

of others.” Search out Matthew 25:43-44 for the significant meaning Touch.

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PRAYER

"Dear Lord, we thank you for your marvelous work in us. Jesus, your work is

displayed in this life by your touch in many ways. We pray that you would use us

to be instrumental in touching the needs in lives of others. In Jesus name we pray."

 

Amen

          

First Lady Micki Scott-February 2022

Family of God Christian Fellowship Church