Don’t Lose The Personal Touch

Today’s Passages – Mark 6 – 7; Proverbs 19

(Second Milers also read – Psalm 91 – 95; Memorize – Daniel 12:3)

“And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue; And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.” – (Mark 7:33-34)

When we were kids, we would often drink from the same bottle of soda. In the day that we are living in, we rightly teach our young children to not get too close to people. We tell them not to share someone else’s cup, or even their hair brush or comb. It is even to the extreme now where many people refuse to shake hands; they simply “bump” fists. We are petrified that some sort of disease is going to be transferred to us from other people. I guess the medical experts are probably right about the fact that we are less likely to catch sickness if we keep our distance from people; but I wonder how are we going to be able to help the people that God has given to us to minister to by not getting close to their problems. In our text, Jesus stuck His fingers in the deaf guy’s ears. I don’t think he was wearing one of those latex gloves either when He did it. It gets worse. He then spits on His hands, and touches the guy’s tongue. I can see some of you “germaphobes” cringing right now.

I am really not suggesting that we throw out all that we have been taught in recent years about good personal hygiene; but I am asking us to consider the fact that in order to help people we have to be willing to enter into their world, and allow ourselves to be exposed to some of their problems. Jesus got out into the world where people live. He didn’t participate in the carnal things that they did, but he entered into their lives. I am not advocating that we throw our standards of separation out the window, either. I believe that we can live “in the world”, but through our Biblical standards, not be “of the world”. I believe this was the heart of the Apostle Paul when he said, “I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.” – (1 Corinthians 9:22B).

The world is changing rapidly today. We are using tools of technology where we have the ability to communicate to people without getting close to them; but I feel we are losing some good opportunities to minister to people face to face in the process. Jesus dealt with people on a personal level. I hope we don’t lose that personal touch in our ministry. I still like to knock on doors in order to meet the people in our community. I still like to go to our member’s homes, and see where they live. I still like to have them into my home for fellowship. I believe it literally opens up doors for deeper ministry. I think if Jesus was still here on earth today, He would be with the people. Just a thought.