IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Touch

Date: Sep. 23, 2015

Passage

Matthew 19:1-15  (ESV)

Now when Jesus had finished these sayings, he went away from Galilee and entered the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. And large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

And Pharisees came up to him and tested him by asking, “Is it lawful to divorce one’s wife for any cause?” He answered, “Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” They said to him, “Why then did Moses command one to give a certificate of divorce and to send her away?” He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so. And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery.”

10 The disciples said to him, “If such is the case of a man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” 11 But he said to them, “Not everyone can receive this saying, but only those to whom it is given. 12 For there are eunuchs who have been so from birth, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Let the one who is able to receive this receive it.”

13 Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, 14 but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” 15 And he laid his hands on them and went away.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 19:15

And he laid his hands on them and went away.

First, the ministry of physical touch (1-2,13-15). Touch is wonderful! Jesus physically touched many, and was touched: "...which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled" (1Jn 1:1). He touched lepers, blind men, children, even his enemies, as well as his disciples before (Mt 17:7) as well as after (Rev 1:17) he was glorified, and even before his incarnation (Da 10:18). Jesus still touches people in tenderness and compassion to comfort and encourage, saying "Do not be afraid" (Mt 17:7). His touch comes in so many ways, and it brings such great comfort. Sometimes we even sense that he is giving us a hug. :)

Second, marriage (3-12). Physical intimacy in marriage is a very special kind of sacred 'touch'. It is holy, and the marriage bond between a man and a woman is never to be broken - "the two will become one" in mind, body and spirit. The marriage bed is undefiled, and must be kept so by honoring the husband or wife of our youth. Above all, marriage according to God's design, between one man and one woman 'until death do us part', must be held sacred, for this is the order that God established "at the beginning."

Prayer: Lord, help us to be gentle and tender in our relationships - with our spouses, our children and fellow believers. Give us compassion for one another so that we may deeply love one another.

One Word: Touch is a love language - be tender and compassionate towards one another.

Daily Bread

Praise the Lord Your God

1 Chronicles 29:10-30

Key Verse: 29:20

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