Pastor's Corner:

In the early 1980s a song was released called “People Need the Lord.” It was written and composed by Greg Nelson & Phil McHugh, and made popular by the singer Steve Green. The words of the chorus are: “People need the Lord. People need the Lord. / At the end of broken dreams He’s the open door. / People need the Lord. People need the Lord. / When will we realize, people need the Lord?”

It is one thing to make the statement that “people need the Lord.” It is another thing entirely to sense, know and feel this statement in a personal, intimate way. There is an account in the Bible in St. Mark’s Gospel, 5:25-34, that illustrates this point very well.

As the story goes, “Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.” This lady’s situation is dire indeed. She suffers from a mysterious blood disease that has left her health in shambles and has decimated her financially. To make matters worse, twelve years of her life have been eaten up by this sorrowful state of life.

“When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, ‘If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.’” This woman recognized that she needed the Lord; she needed Jesus. She evidenced great faith and trust in Jesus’ ability to make a difference in her life. She was so desperate for the Lord that she took great risk in pressing through a growing street crowd to touch Him — no easy task for a woman in her weakened physical condition. Nevertheless, she was determined to touch Jesus.

“Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction … . And He (Jesus) said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.’” Wow! This woman’s disease was done away with; she was healed. Jesus also commended her for her faith: her sense that she needed the Lord, and her determination to do whatever was necessary to get to Him. Furthermore, Jesus spoke peace over her life.

The lesson is clear: “People need the Lord.” But, do you personally need the Lord? He still heals people in this day and age, but even more important than that — Jesus died on the cross to deliver us from a spiritual “blood disease” called sin. This sin disease is insurmountably worse than the woman’s blood disease because this disease ruins our spiritual health, disconnecting us from relationship with God and the blessings He wants for our lives. John 3:16 tells us that “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” That phrase “believeth in Him” is for people who need the Lord — people like the woman in our story, people like me and, yes, people like you.

So, how will you and I respond? Will we, like the woman in the story:

1. Recognize that we need Jesus?

2. Show great faith and trust in Jesus’ ability to make a difference in our lives?

3. Be so desperate for Jesus’ touch in our lives that we will do whatever is necessary to touch Him?

4. Be determined to touch Jesus?

If we respond to the Lord in these ways:

• He will heal us of our sin disease;

• He will commend our faith in Him;

• And He will speak peace over our lives.

May you know, sense and feel your need for the Lord Jesus Christ today and every day. Amen!

(By Rev. Edroy “CURT” Curtis; President of the Greater Havre Area Ministerial Association (G.H.A.M.A.); Lead Pastor of Havre Assembly of God Church)