I have never been a good seamstress.  My mother was the sewing whiz.  She tried to teach me; she tried.  I finished a wrap-around skirt.  Today I can sew on a button to my husband’s favorite Sunday shirt (at last minute, right before we walk out to worship, ladies you know how that goes!).  And I can hem the cuff of his pants when they unravel.  That’s about it.  But every time I sew a hem I think of that favored woman in Matthew 9.
I’m sure she didn’t think she was favored at first.  She had endured an issue of blood for 12 years.  How she had suffered!  I imagine she rarely left her home, but this day was special.  Someone was there who could help her—the Messiah!  She believed in the Christ, and she knew if she could but touch the hem of his garment.  Jesus did heal her that day.  He made her whole and commended her faith as He did this miracle.

This favored woman reminds me:

  1. The Lord favors those who recognize His power.  Many in Jesus’ day did not understand His power.  He told them, “Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.” (Matthew 22:29)  The sick woman knew she need only touch the hem for He was the Son of God!
  2. The Lord favors those who have total trust in Him. We must not doubt.  This woman trusted the Lord’s strength to be hers!
  3. The Lord favors those who have great commitment. We sometimes barely reach the hem of His garment with our faith, when rather we should give our all to it.  Jesus said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)
  4. The Lord favors those who take action. The woman with an issue of blood did not stay hidden in her house.  She did not send someone to bring Jesus to her.  She did not just wish she could meet him.  If she prayed, that is not ALL she did. She pushed through the crowd, summoning what little strength she had, and she found the Lord!  She reached out to Him.  “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)  “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled.”  (Matthew 5:6)

The suffering woman did seek and find the Lord’s power and favor toward her.  Jesus said, “ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find;  knock and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8).  The verbs here are in a continuous tense.  May the Lord help us to never stop seeking after His garment!
-Debbie Kea, Griffin, GA