Keep Building

DEVOTIONAL BY GUEST WRITER EMILY OWEN

Build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11

Build each other up. Appreciate each other. Value each other. Say ‘well done’ to each other. Want the best for each other. Build each other up.

‘Actually,’ Paul says, ‘just keep doing what you’re doing.’ Paul had seen how they encouraged each other. What about us? Should we build each other up? Yes. If we just keep doing what we’re doing, are we building each other up? When we look at our lives, do we see encouragers?

Let’s look at Mark 5: Jesus is walking along, surrounded by a crowd of people. They’re pressing in around him. Suddenly, Jesus stops. ‘Who touched me?’ asks Jesus. The disciples think it an odd question, since everyone is crowding around and bumping into each other. But Jesus keeps looking around. He wants to see who has touched him. Yes, everyone around him has, but he is looking for someone specific. He keeps looking, until he sees. Just as, even in the crowds, he sees you.

In the crowd, there’s a woman. She’s been bleeding for twelve years. She knows she touched Jesus. She knows that, when she did, the bleeding stopped. She knows that she did it secretly, because she was scared. She knows she’s an outcast of society. This woman doesn’t want to be noticed. Perhaps she doesn’t think she deserves to be noticed. Perhaps she wishes that Jesus would stop looking for her. But he doesn’t.

‘Who touched me?’ The woman can’t hide any more. And Jesus sees her. Terrified, no longer able to conceal herself in the crowd, she falls down at Jesus’ feet.

‘Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feel and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth.’ Mark 5:33

And Jesus doesn’t stop seeing her. Perhaps you feel afraid, low down, crowds pressing in. Jesus doesn’t stop seeing you.

As he looks at the woman, and sees her, Jesus says, ‘Daughter… Go in peace.’ Such kindness in that word: ‘daughter.’ When others looked at her, they saw a woman. Bleeding. Outcast. Perhaps she had begun to see the same when she looked at herself. Outcast. Unwelcome. When Jesus looked at her, he saw a daughter. Family. Included. Jesus built her up.

Maybe when you look at yourself, you see the negatives, the damage, the view others project onto you. What does Jesus see when he looks at you? He sees someone precious. He sees someone who has worth. He sees you.

Father God, thank you for showing me kindness. Even in the crowds, you look for me. Every time I look to you, I will meet your gaze. Help me to keep looking at you. And help me to show kindness to others. Encouraging them. Building them up. Seeing them. Just as you teach me to do. Amen.

Today’s devotion has been taken from Day 17 of 30 Days with Ruth: A devotional journey with the loyal widow. (Used by permission).

Emily Owen grew up in Leicester. Aged 16, she was diagnosed with a rare neurological condition, neurofibromatosis type 2, which has led to numerous operations and left her deaf. Emily speaks at meetings and events, both Christian and secular, and enjoys sharing her life experiences.

If you would like to read more from Emily, please visit www.emily-owen.com