I am supremely aware of God’s love for me and it will never cease to amaze me! It is so easy to feel small in this great big universe. As I look at the stars in the sky, I know that I am utterly insignificant. In this world…I am only one of more than 7 billion people living on our planet today. Why would I stand out in a crowd? Am I somebody special in this country? This state? Even when I consider my life in this city where we’ve chosen to put down roots, I am one person in a city of more than 210,000 people. If I personally knew even 1000 of these people (and I don’t believe I do) my calculator app tells me that my influence is so small in this city that it is 0%. It seems that anything less than 1% is considered so insignificant that it is valued at zero on my calculator. (I guess if it went out a few more decimals, It might give me a little hope…but it was a free app).  Some days I just feel small. Some days my life’s impact feels insignificant. My influence limited. My importance…well, less than important. But, I know that God has never felt that way about me! Time and again He has proven His love for me. Personally. Intimately. God loves me and that brings a smile to my face. That knowledge gives me purpose.

In the Bible, there’s a neat little story about another seemingly insignificant person. It’s easy to miss this story because it’s only 7 verses long and Mark is the only Gospel writer who highlights this unnamed man. The story goes like this (…the following is in my words. I encourage you to also read it in your Bible, Mark 7:31-37 and cross reference Matthew 15:29-31 to see the larger picture).

An insignificant man’s encounter with Jesus:

One day when Jesus was traveling with his disciples to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis, crowds began to gather around Him. People always found Jesus wherever He went. They knew that this man, Jesus, was special. Most people didn’t comprehend why He was special, but they had heard about His miraculous power. So they came in droves to see Jesus. They came to be healed…came to listen to Him speak. Came to find out if He was for real. At very least they came out of curiosity. This day near the Ten Cities was no different.

As the crowds were gathering, some people brought a man to Jesus who was in desperate need of healing. He was deaf and as a result could hardly speak. He was isolated from the bustling world around him because he couldn’t effectively communicate. There wasn’t any help for a person who was not whole. If the disabled had no one to care for their needs, they would have to beg if they wanted the chance to eat. This man was blessed to have friends who cared enough to beg for him. They begged Jesus to place His hand on the man. They believed that Jesus’ touch would heal him.

Jesus saw the man and had compassion. He led him away from the crowd to touch and heal him personally. Since the man could not hear, Jesus put His fingers in his ears, as if to say without saying a word, “I will heal your deaf ears.” Then He touched the man’s tongue with His own saliva to loosen and prepare it for speech. After this, Jesus looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh He said “Be opened!” Immediately the man could hear and speak plainly. The man and his friends were so excited about this miracle that they told everyone about it, even though Jesus instructed them to keep it quiet. The crowd was amazed and word continued to spread about Jesus.

When this unnamed man first met Jesus he likely felt utterly insignificant in the crowd that was gathering. He had absolutely nothing to offer Jesus. He was unable to praise Him with his tongue or tell others about Him. He couldn’t even listen to Jesus teach. He came only with his need. He was just one of many people who needed the healing touch of Jesus that day. He had to wonder what would make him stand out so that Jesus would take notice of him. But Jesus did not see this man as insignificant. He looked at him through eyes of love and compassion. He took him away from the crowd and to a place where He could give him personal attention.

As the man followed Jesus he must have wondered what would happen next. Did he expect such an intimate touch? Jesus spit on his fingers and proceeded to touch the man’s tongue!  Okay, I’m fully aware that this level of intimacy would be completely gross to most people.  Think about it for a moment! First of all, most of us have our personal space and we believe that space should never be invaded unless we allow it. If we happen to allow someone inside our ‘bubble’ we still have our limits. (The hug that lasts just a little too long, for instance…makes us very uncomfortable). Secondly, everyone knows today that other people’s germs can make us sick. So, I have to ask, would you allow Jesus to spit in your mouth? This man was deaf, not blind.  He saw what was happening and he allowed Jesus to spit in his mouth. He trusted Jesus. When it comes to our relationship with Christ, we have to let down our guard and allow Him in…even if it’s uncomfortable. Jesus wants an intimate relationship with us. We can’t inflict our personal space on God! Not if we want a thriving relationship with Him.

Jesus spoke to the deaf-mute man through action. He put His fingers in the man’s ears, He moistened his tongue with saliva and He sighed as He spoke healing. “Ephphatha!” – Be opened! When I read this, I picture Jesus’ warm breath touching the face of the man who could not physically hear the word. He likely felt the breath of God as Jesus sighed. How beautiful is that?! Then, in less time than it took for the man’s excited heart to beat again, he could hear sounds and speak words…clearly. The man was overjoyed! Jesus’ touch had given him a new life.

Has Jesus’ touch given you new life? Are you a new creation because of what Christ has done in you? Or are you still the same person you were before inviting Him into your life? Has His touch changed your life or are you the same old person but with a Christian sign around your neck? Jesus’ touch changes lives! If you know deep down that you have not allowed Him to change you, then I encourage you to seek Him. Jeremiah 29:13 promises us that we will find God when we seek Him with all our heart.  I know this promise to be true.

No matter how small you feel, you are not insignificant in the eyes of God. This life in Christ has never been about what you have to offer Him. If that were the case, you would be insignificant. Just one in 7 billion. You would have to be pretty extraordinarily special to stand out in a crowd of 7 billion! No, Jesus sees you. He loves you. He died for you. All you need to do is come to Him as you are. Jesus Christ will take you aside from the crowd and breathe words of healing into your soul, personally. Intimately. Eyes ‘be opened!’ to the sin you are clinging to that separates you from Me. Ears ‘be opened!’ to hear my Word. Tongue ‘be opened!’ to speak my Truth. Heart ‘be opened!’ to being filled up and overflowing with my Spirit and joy. Mind be stayed on Me. Hands be useful. Feet be beautiful. Life be changed.

I never saw it this way before February. In hindsight I realize that for me it was all about works. When I was obedient, I felt special.  When I was not working, I felt insignificant. Unworthy. But since Jesus filled me in February, I’ve been learning what it means to trust Him.  When He cut me in December, I learned the meaning of surrender (see My Journey to Joy, 2/23/15). However, I recognized His touch in the pain. I allowed Him to spit in my mouth, so to speak.  I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t admit that I also questioned what He was doing! I cried out to Him…this wasn’t even remotely what I thought I had been praying for! But, after a lifetime of effectively being deaf and dumb before God, a life without joy, I understood that I had to allow Him to break my heart before I could receive His healing touch. Until I was willing to surrender my pain, there was no room in my heart for lasting joy.  I still believe that faith without works is dead (James 2:20). However I’m finding that the joy of the Lord is my strength.  Faith and works makes sense to me now because they both come from the overflow of my heart.

You may not be blind to sin in your life that keeps you from an intimate relationship with Christ..I pray that you’re not! My hope for you is that you are walking with Jesus and that His life within you is changing you daily. But if, like me, you realize that the opposite is true, please seek Him with all your heart. Let him in. Accept His intimate touch, even if it is the most uncomfortable thing you’ve ever endured.  You are not insignificant in His sight.  You ARE one in 7 billion and He sees you.  Jesus is the lover of your soul, He wants to fill you to overflowing.