Touch Deprivation.

"Let Your hand be with me..." (First Chronicles 4:10)

In First Chronicles 4:10, we see Jabez petitioning God. At the center of his petition is this plea: Let Your hand be with me. We can interpret this petition in a few ways:

Lord, cover me.
Lord, draw me in to Yourself.
Lord, touch me and heal me.
Lord, guide my decisions.
Lord, impart Your life and character into me.

Jabez recognized that the hand of God is powerful; one touch from Him can change a life forever.

There is a curious medical condition termed "touch deprivation." A touch deprived infant, even if fed regularly, can become ill or even die because of limited or no physical contact with other people. We were created not for isolation, but for community.

May I submit that touch deprivation is also a spiritual condition? Persons can give verbal assent to the sovreignty of God and the deity of Jesus Christ, but their lives do not give evidence of having been touched by His Spirit. Such persons are destined for spiritual death. Galatians 5:19-21 says:

"The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." (emphasis mine)

Why would the apostle Paul have to give a second warning about this? Perhaps the Galatian believers felt that they could continue the rituals and routines of the faith without releasing themselves to be touched by God. But, without His touch, we will not live according to His nature. The rituals ultimately become empty, dead acts because God is not present in the works.

What is the evidence of His hand upon us? Paul says, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires." (Galatians 5:22-24, emphasis mine).

Jabez knew that the touch of God on his life was a key to his well-being and success. To paraphrase what Pastor Martha shared on Sunday, the supernatural intervention of God brings His peace and His power. And as He continues to reveal Himself to us, we  continue to grow and develop into spiritual maturity. Jabez needed the supernatural intervention of the Lord in his life. So do we.

Lord, let Your hand be with me.