GET A GRIP!
I so appreciate our Pastor, Sandra Roach! Her aggressive faith and determination to see the Kingdom of God manifest is a lungful of inspiration. Recently she was sharing the account of the woman with the issue of blood. She came up and grabbed Jesus’ prayer shawl as He walked through a crushing crowd (Mark 5:25-34). She was healed as she laid hold of Jesus!
So many sit at home longing that Jesus would knock on the door and say, “Hi, I’m here to meet your needs! What have you got?” This woman did not wait in passivity for Jesus to come by and touch her. She sought Him out and grabbed Him!
When a toaster or curling iron are plugged in and switched on a “demand” is put on the power company. When we deliberately plug into Jesus, “coming on” to him, we are not arrogantly “demanding” of him but expectantly anticipating that His power will flow as we connect!
We use the expression, “Get a grip.” We find it illustrated in scripture. Samson got a grip on the donkey’s jaw bone. Jael seized the hammer and tent peg. Eleazar gripped his sword so that when the battle was done His fingers needed to be pried off.
Wouldn’t it be nice to have wisdom? Get a grip! Wouldn’t it be nice to have provision? Get a grip! Wouldn’t it be great to have deliverance and healing? Get a grip on the Savior!
Was Jesus ticked off at the woman for touching Him? He might have shamed her; “Why have you contaminated me by touching me?” Instead He blessed her for her faith. She laid hold of Jesus and Got what she sought!
Anemic, passive, hope says, “Wouldn’t it be nice..” A gripping faith says,” I must and will connect with Jesus. I am going to find him and hold Him!” Jacob said to his wrestling Partner. “I will not let go of you until you bless me!”
Isaiah tells of a sinful nation that had no more gumption to seek God. “No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you” (Isa 64:7). Contrast Matthew, who shows a people with resolve. “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it ” (Matt 11:12).
We need to be fierce, vigorous and perhaps belligerent, to latch onto the kingdom! We press on to lay hold of the One who throbs with Life! He may be invisible but He is not insubstantial! Clutch the door frame or kitchen table and tell God, “Just like I am holding on to this I am holding on to You, for Dear Life!
Do you have one of those flaccid handshakes? It’s time to exercise your squeeze until you have a vice grip, bulldog clasp on the One Who has what you must have. Latch on aggressively to the willingness of God!
“I held him and would not let him go” SS 3:4