The Fringes Subscribe to the Devotional

This week's focus: Faith

NASA recently debuted incredible images of the cosmos that, until now, the world had never seen. The new telescope that captured the images is unique because it can peer through vast amounts of dust to reveal photos in unprecedented clarity and detail. After viewing the pictures, I couldn’t help but think of Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.”

The greatness of God and His handiwork is beyond our comprehension. Below are a few verses from the Old Testament found in Job 26.

“He stretches out the north over empty space and hangs the earth on nothing…The pillars of heaven tremble And are amazed at His rebuke…He quieted the sea with His power…

Then the chapter ends with a remarkable declaration,

“Behold, these are the fringes of His ways…

Fast forward to the New Testament, where we learn of a woman who suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding. Labeled “unclean,” she was isolated from others and was hurting both physically and mentally. With her hope in doctors gone (as well as all of her money), she was desperate for a miracle. Her desperation became a gift when it called forth boldness to press through the crowds to get to Jesus. She believed that if she could touch just the fringes of His garment, she would be made well. Full of faith, she stretched out her hand, felt the fringes, and immediately the bleeding stopped!

As awe-inspiring as the miracle was, it paled to what happened next—the Creator of the universe quit walking and turned around. Her courageous faith stopped the Savior when he felt power leave His body. He asked, “Who touched my garments?” (Of course, Jesus knew who touched His clothes, but by asking the question, He opened a door for her testimony). In fear and trembling, the woman fell before Him and told him the whole truth. Jesus did not respond in anger but compassionately said, “Daughter, your faith has made you well.” (Mark 5:25-34)

What a compliment it is to the Lord when we, like the woman in this story, can see the invisible. When we remember that the creation of the cosmos is merely the fringes of His ways, we can exercise our faith boldly. When our eyes are on the Lord, we don’t have to be victims of our circumstances because our faith sees beyond the moment. Hebrews 11:1 reminds us that faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

Let us not allow the dust of pride, doubt, fear, or unbelief to cloud our spiritual eyes. Instead, As children of an all-powerful God, the One who created the galaxies and knows every star by name, honor Him with extreme faith – the kind that stops Him in His tracks and causes Him to turn around.