Max Lucado- In Scripture Matthew 8:2 is symbolic of the ultimate outcast: infected by a condition he did not seek, rejected by those he knew, avoided by people he did not know, condemned to a future he could not bear.

And in the memory of each outcast must have been the day he was forced to face the truth: life would never be the same. (Google image, Jesus touching a man with leprosy).

The banishing of a leper seems harsh, unnecessary. The Ancient East hasn’t been the only culture to isolate their wounded, however. We may not build colonies or cover our mouths in their presence, but we certainly build walls and duck our eyes. And a person needn’t have leprosy to feel quarantined.

The divorced know this feeling. So do the handicapped. The unemployed have felt it, as have the less educated. Some shun unmarried moms. We keep our distance from the depressed and avoid the terminally ill.

We have neighborhoods for immigrants, convalescent homes for the elderly, schools for the simple, centers for the addicted, and prisons for the criminals.

The rest simply try to get away from it all. Only God knows how many individuals are living quiet, lonely lives infected by their fear of rejection and their memories of the last time they tried.They choose not to be touched at all rather than risk being hurt again.

Some of you have the master touch of the Physician himself. You use your hands to pray over the sick and minister to the weak. If you aren’t touching them personally, your hands are writing letters, dialing phones, baking pies. You have learned the power of a touch.

But others of us tend to forget. Our hearts are good; it’s just that our memories are bad. We forget how significant one touch can be. We fear saying the wrong thing or using the wrong tone or acting the wrong way. So rather than do it incorrectly, we do nothing at all.

Aren’t we glad Jesus didn’t make the same mistake? If your fear of doing the wrong thing prevents you from doing anything, keep in mind the perspective of the lepers of the world. They aren’t picky. They aren’t finicky. They’re just lonely. They are yearning for a godly touch.

Jesus touched the untouchables of the world. Will you do the same?

The Touch of God

by Max Lucado

(Used by permission)

From Just Like Jesus
Copyright 1998, Max Lucado

Listen to UpWords with Max Lucado at OnePlace.com and find resources at MaxLucado.com

Father, it's painful to be shunned, and we know a person needn't have leprosy to feel he's quarantined.

Unfortunately, some folks do feel that way; such as the handicapped, newly divorced, unemployed, the unmarried moms and the terminally ill.

Forgive us for distancing ourselves from them, as though they had some dreadful disease!

Only God knows how many people are living quiet, lonely lives infected by their fear of rejection and their memories of the last time they tried. They choose not to be touched at all rather than risk being hurt again.

Help us learn the power of a touch by reaching out to those we know have been hurt one way or another. Someone's comment can absolutely devastate the person, and cause much inner turmoil, which can bring a sense of shame and rejection.

May we not be guilty of doing such, and help us pray for anyone who has been hurt in this ungodly manner.

Their forgiving the person who offended them will bring the healing and peace needed. Thank You that this can be done by asking the Lord Jesus to enable them to forgive.

Going to the person who hurt them in private to tell them they forgive them can restore friendship, and possibly strengthen it.

We ask for Your forgiveness for our taking any part in hurting others. In the Name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Today's Bible verses:

Ps. 121:8 (KJV) "The LORD shall preserve thy going

out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even

for evermore."

Mark 1:41 (KJV) "And Jesus, moved with compassion,

put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him,

I will; be thou clean."

John 15:7 (KJV) "If ye abide in me, and my words abide

in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done

unto you."

Today's guest post:

My Heart Jumps For Joy

Your Choice?

Debbie McEwen

"God always chooses us and all things ultimately in our best interest.

What do you choose?"

Today's question-

Why should we make time to pray?

Jesus took time to get alone with His Father for each day's activities. Seems as though we should too! Things seem to go a lot smoother, and more is accomplished when we share our concerns with Him. He's more apt to be able to direct our day when we take the time to be open for instruction and enablement.

When you behold Who God is, your interaction with Him will depend upon your conception of His greatness. It helps to start our prayer time with declaring Who He is. He is the Creator, and is willing and Able to help us with our concerns.

Simply asking "what's next?" often during the day, will cause us to be aware of His Presence to guide. It works, and I recommend your trying it!

List of recent sermons of CFC ministers. CFC Potsdam church has a live service at 10 am Sunday's for shut-ins. If for some reason you can't make it to the church you usually attend, click on the above link, and still get fed!

Upcoming posts-

#67 Leading a Person to Christ

7/3- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel

#68 Prepare Your People by Teaching them God's Word

5th- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel

What It Takes

7th- Saturday's post by Jean Oathout

#69 Your Prayer Life as a Leader

10th- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel