Stretch

Luke 6:10

10He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He did so and his hand was completely restored.

It was the Sabbath and the Pharisees wanted to know if Jesus would heal anyone. The Sabbath is a day of rest and to recognize the rest the Lord took even in His own work to create the world and everything in it. The Jews were to adhere to the commandment to keep the Sabbath holy and to do no work. We as followers of Christ are to do the same but often do not. The Pharisees were looking for an excuse to accuse Jesus of not following the law. Jesus already knew and therefore decided to heal a man anyway.  What is important to note is that Jesus gave the man specific instructions. He told him to "stretch." Why is stretching important? The man had to do something in order to receive his healing. The man had to make a conscious effort to take action in order to receive the result Jesus wanted to give him. Merriam-Webster's Dictionary defines 2stretch as 1) an act of extending or drawing out beyond ordinary or normal limits 2) a continuous extent in length, area or time 3) the extent to which something may be stretched 4) either of the straight sides of a racecourse.  Drawing out beyond ordinary limits is what Jesus used to push the man to what he desired which is healing. If you want to be healed, you still have to do something. What is it that you want? More importantly, what is it that Jesus wants to give you? The only way you can receive it is if you stretch toward Jesus.

P.S. Thank you for patience over the last few weeks as I was working on rewrites for my second book, Shh...Don't Tell: Journey of Survivors. Remember to check out my girl Stubbs on the Leap of Faith Show Monday-Friday 6am-9am ET on the Leap of Faith Network at www.leapoffaithshow.com and listen for the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment!