Midas Touch

James 5:14-16 - Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

In our western societies, we place a lot of focus on being successful. We often look for external signs of success such as wealth, prestige, and status. Those who are exceptionally successful and have a series of good fortune might be said to have the Midas touch where everything they touch turns to gold. How many of our people would love to have the Midas touch and turn everything into gold for their own success, fame, and good pleasure?

Jesus is the Son of God, but He did not exert a self-centered touch on everything. He did not seek fame and fortune. He did not seek crowds of popularity. He did not touch things to change His own life on earth to be one of extravagance, luxury, comfort, ease, and pleasure (Matthew 8:20). No, He changed the lives of others with His very touch. He touched the eyes of the blind and gave them sight (John 9:6-7). He touched the lepers and healed them of their disease (Matthew 8:2-3). He touched the ears of the deaf and gave them hearing (Mark 7:32-35). He touched the bread and fish and fed thousands upon thousands (Matthew 14:19-21). He took the hands of the dead and restored them to life (Mark 5:41-43).

James instructs us to pray for one another. By the power of God, we could encourage someone with a pat on the back, an empathetic hug for someone who is hurting, holding the hand of someone sick. So let us lift up our hearts praying for others that God will touch their hearts and His will be done in their lives and our life.