The power of a godly touch
We are surrounded by people in our lives that have not had the touch of a human hand in months – maybe years. People might wave at them or smile at them, and might even accidentally touch their hands when handing back change at the grocery store. But a heartfelt, compassionate, friendly touch that says “you’re loved”, or “you make a difference”, or “you mean something to me” might be so few and very far between.
You are the hands of Jesus in this world. Did you know that? Galatians 2:20 tells you that it is no longer you living in your body – but it is Christ that is living in you. That awesome truth brings with it an awesome responsibility: the touch of God comes through your touch. Whether it’s a kind word, a note of thanks or encouragement, a pat on the back, a hug around the shoulder, or a brush of your hand on theirs, your touch becomes the touch of the Savior – a tangible expression of a seemingly intangible spiritual reality.
Without your compassionate touch, the presence of Jesus can sometimes feel so far away. When someone is sick or grieving or depressed or oppressed, your physical presence in their lives reawakens their sense that God has chosen to bend down to meet them; your touch becomes His energy and refreshment in a lonely, hurting, frightened life.
The people in our lives – our neighbors, our friends, our co-workers, and the people we see regularly at the store or the game, even our family members – all need a godly touch from us. They don’t care if it’s fleeting or uncertain, as long as a real heart-connection is made. Pastor and author, Max Lucado says “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.” Lucado reminds us that is was Jesus’ words “Be healed” that healed the leper of his disease, but it was Jesus’ presence and physical touch that healed the leper of his loneliness and isolation. (Matthew 8:1-4) The people in the world around you don’t care if you have the perfect words to say or that you show up at the prefect time, or know exactly what to do once you see them. . . they just care that you care.
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from His love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:1-4)
Jesus encourages us to care for those around us. He taught “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. . . I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:34-40)
Learning to have a heart like Jesus’ means doing the things He did. It means consoling the hurting, visiting the sick, feeding the hungry, meeting needs as they arise. It means being in their presence and physically touching them in a caring and friendly way to bring healing and wholeness and restoration.
Will you tenderly and carefully encourage the people around you with the loving touch of Christ?
