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In Malachi 4:2 God
promises that, for those that “revere His name, the sun of righteousness will
rise with healing in its wings.” This is
a beautiful picture of hope given to all those in need of supernatural renewal
and healing. I can remember well
backpacking in the mountains and feeling the cold that comes just before the
dawn. But then the sun would begin to
show itself. Slowly its rays would creep
across the ground until its warmth began sinking in, driving out the cold that
had chilled to the bone. So it is in
Malachi. In the midst of a prophecy of
judgment, hope is extended. However,
hope extended is not hope received.
In Matthew 9:20 and Luke
8:44 we are introduced to a woman who had lived in a state of sickness,
rejection and isolation for twelve years.
She dealt daily with the pain that had become the centerpiece of her
life. But
one day a ray of hope
that entered her cold world. The
Son. She sought out Jesus and upon
finding him she reached out her hand, straining to touch the edge of His cloak,
His tassels, His “wings”. She knew that
if she could only touch the outermost piece of material that was connected to
this savior, she would be healed. And
she was.
There is a saying that is
too often attributed to the Bible that goes, “God helps those who
help themselves”. This account of the
woman reaching out for Jesus’ cloak would seem to prove that statement. However, the Bible says nothing of the
sort. The love of God is such that it
reaches down for those who cannot help themselves. The sun rises and offers healing to all who
would receive it. This woman did not
take something away from Jesus but rather received something from Him. Her reaching out and touching Him was not an
act of independence and strength but of utter dependence and weakness. She stopped reaching elsewhere to find her
answer. May we find ourselves just as
desperate every day of our lives.
“(she) came up behind Him, and touched the fringe
of His cloak; and immediately her hemorrhage stopped.” Luke 8:44
The Healing Begins
You’re more than welcome to this heart
But it’s broken down and falling apart
With dark desires and chasing after sin
That’s the state this offering is in
But there is healing in Your wings that covers me
As I reach out my hand and touch Your cloak
You’re reaching out and reaching down and Your mercy’s reaching in
And the healing begins
I lay my heart down before You
Exposed and bare accepting the truth
That all I’ve done has only earned Your wrath
But Your love oh Lord has made a path
So I lay it down and take hold of Your grace
Running home to find my place
As a child of God enfolded in Your love
A sinner cleansed and covered in Your blood.
But there is healing in Your wings that covers me
As I reach out my hand and touch Your cloak
You’re reaching out and reaching down and Your mercy’s reaching in
And the healing begins
And I never knew just what mercy was,
‘till I met You
And I never thought grace would come to me,
but Your love was true
And I never could buy my ticket out,
then I believed
But there is healing in Your wings that covers me
As I reach out my hand and touch Your cloak
You’re reaching out and reaching down
and Your mercy’s reaching in
And the healing begins
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