Luke 8:45 And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

This past week the woman with the issue of blood came up in a discussion on faith. I had been looking at the faith issue. I was looking at things from the perspective of the work of the Holy Spirit, calling this woman to act by faith.

A kind woman opened my eyes to the woman’s point of view. Not just what she had suffered, not just the obstacles she faced, not the fear she had to overcome, but insight into the woman’s experience. I had not thought about the woman’s point of view as much as I should have. I am not a woman.

There are two points of view here. The top side down and the inside out. All that she had heard, all that she had seen, vision of the Lord Himself in human form. The human perspective is one that is just as valid and necessary as God’s view point. I would make a better witness if I could see more clearly the inside out view. It is one that would make my witness more relatable. People tend to believe a witness who can demonstrate understanding and empathy when they are hurting and need help.

I am always looking for God to be at work so that I can join Him. That does not mean that the person in front of me will be able to receive a word from me. That moment when they are ready will be best served by someone who has compassion for the situation and the moment.

Isaiah 53:1 Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed?

That is two views, inside out and top side down.

Both are needed to be an effective witness.

Exodus 23:2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment:

In 1968 after I returned from Vietnam, I was stationed at Fort Hood. There was an anti-war protest at the University of Texas that summer and I marched in that protest. When I returned back to base I was visited by two officers from the Criminal Investigation Division. They had photos of me marching on the drag.

“Did you stay to listen to the speaker at the Capitol?” No.

“Did you know the organizer is a communist?” No

“Why were you protesting?” Because unlike so many of these college students I was there and I saw firsthand the horrors of war and I have the right to voice my objections just like any citizen.

There is much evil in the world. Not all evil is foreign in origin. Some destroy with bombs. Some destroy in much more clandestine ways. You can see wrongs everywhere, because man is everywhere. Are all evil? No. Some are just caught up in frustration, not knowing the truth, and lashing out at unseen enemies.

1 Corinthians 9:25-27 And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

As a soldier of the Cross I owe this to the One who died for me.