The healing touch of Jesus

Bishop (Dr) Patience Itai Hove

THE word shalom is synonymous with words like completeness, wholeness, peace, tranquillity and so forth. It is from the Hebrew language, particularly the verb “shelem”, which means to pay for or to be fully paid for.

Commonly used as a form of greeting, shalom represents bonds of love among individuals wishing each other well.

Shalom as completeness, represents full functionality of a unit where each component of the unit is fully efficient.

If shalom is portrayed within a family, for example, every member of the family is efficient in their role from the father down to the children. Every family member has a unique character and in shalom these characters merge to become a complete and strong unit.

No member of the family tries to outdo another in a competition, but each one contributes their fair share of work. In such an environment, prosperity, health, and abundance are guaranteed as these individuals share a common goal.

Shalom is spread through touch and the two are very closely related. Our shining example or standard of shalom is the Lord Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

Jesus Christ was intentionally compassionate, feeling the way others felt as they were in their predicament.

Mark 6:34 says, “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.  So He began teaching them many things.”

Jesus did not just feel compassionate, but He went ahead to touch these people’s lives.

Touch can be considered as a form of communication as it is two-way. This means that one should touch the lives of others, they themselves should be touched by others.

The shalom touch is intentional, a choice that one has to make on their own. It is a reflective action of what one says with their mouth. Love is not love until you give it away.

Jesus went about doing good, showing the necessity of movements in achieving the shalom touch.

Shalom calls for stepping out of one’s comfort zone for the sake of others. Christ left heaven and lived a lowly life on earth, which He identified with so that He could touch our lives.

A touch has a positive or negative effect on its surroundings. An example is that of the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years. “And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment.” (Matthew 9:20)

Many of us are in situations where we are rendered hopeless, but there is an antidote that we look down upon and consider to be too simple — the power of touch. In this particular case, it amounted to the touching the hem of Christ’s garment in faith, believing she would be well.

Logically, the person who is being touched is the one to be healed.  However, as you can see in the example of the woman, at times touch brings healing to the giver, and not necessarily to the receiver of the touch.

Jesus heals through the woman’s touch. There are times in one’s life when one does not need words spoken to them.

A universal example would be that in times of bereavement, one may not necessarily want counselling, but instead, just needs to cry on someone’s shoulder and they feel better.

In our African culture, it is this kind of touch that relieves heart-felt pain and makes evident the power of touch.

Another classic example is Mother Theresa who lived a life of touch as much as she could.

Even the nuns she worked with began to imitate her as well. It shows the shalom touch can influence those around you such that they start life as well.

This brings about the following questions:

  • Who are you created to be — for what purpose?
  • What effect does your life have on others?
  • What legacy will you live for the next generation?
  • When will you start touching lives and how?
  • What will people miss when you are gone?

As shalom touch is influential, we ought to watch our company and  understand how to live a life governed by it.

NUGGETS

  • Touching a life can be by deeds, an act of love, kindness, gratitude, by what we say – a word of comfort, encouragement. Each one of us has been empowered to touch a life one way or another, spreading the shalom touch.
  • Touch has the ability to soothe the heart in difficult situations; it’s a giver of hope to the hopeless, a pain reliever and it also brings healing.
  • Allow God to touch you first. Receive His touch so that you can transform others. He desires a clean heart with the right for you to be His vessel.
  • Shalom brings freedom: there is no more worry, anxiety about the past, present or future. It has the power to chase away fear which fights our faith.
  • A life well-lived in shalom leaves a legacy that can be passed on to future generations.
  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Bishop (Dr) Patience Itai Hove is founder and senior pastor of ElShaddai Ministries International. She is an author of note who has over the years written many books on prayer, mentoring, love, marriage, relationships and faith. She can be found on Facebook, Telegram, and other social media platforms.

 

You Might Also Like

Comments

Take our Survey

We value your opinion! Take a moment to complete our survey