Tag Archives: Gospels

Bible Gleanings, devotions

Frail Faith | Bible Gleanings | May 24-25, 2025

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Twelve long years of suffering and shame. She endured menstrual hemorrhages for over a decade, and all that they entailed: the physical toll of losing blood, the emotional distress of losing friends, and the spiritual anguish of losing faith (Matt. 9:22). And because of her condition, she was unable to have a husband or children. She was even forbidden from entering the Temple because she was deemed ritually unclean (Lev. 15:19-27). She had not asked for this kind of life, and she was running out of options and life itself—until she heard that a man named Jesus was passing through town (Mark 5:27).

She was determined to get to Him, no matter what (Luke 8:42b-43). The woman knew very little about Jesus—she had no opportunity to do so because of her law-mandated solitary confinement. The only theology she had came from hearsay and town-talk, but she resolved to act in faith on what little knowledge she possessed. “He doesn’t have to stop for me,” she must have thought, as she waded through the multitude and snuck behind Jesus to grab a tassel of His tunic. “I won’t get in His way. Perhaps if I come near enough to touch His clothes, that will be enough,” she hoped.

Twelve years of humiliation, blood loss, and spiritual despair vanished in an instant (Luke 8:44). She was right: the Master’s touch—even if it was only the fringe of His garments—was all that she needed. Although her faith in Jesus was inadequate and incomplete, she allowed it to influence her behavior. She took what little she knew about Christ, and by faith, staked everything on the sufficiency of His power. Her faith might have been insufficient and imperfect, but the Object of her faith was sufficient and perfect—and Christ rewarded her feeble faith by curing her and accepting her into His spiritual family (Mark 5:34). 

All that is necessary for one to be made spiritually whole and become a child of God is one saving touch from Jesus Christ—one reach of an all-or-nothing faith that takes hold of Christ for salvation. And like this woman, you may not know much about Jesus, but faith is acting on what you do know—even if your faith is mustard-seed-sized. After all, faith as small as a mustard seed is capable of mountain-moving, not because of the one who has faith, but because of the One who rewards it (Matt. 17:20). Certainly, all believers should strive for stronger faith, but as this healed woman would tell you, the Person in whom your faith resides is greater than the quality of your faith. Jesus deserves unwavering faith, but He can work with faith which is frail and flawed—just ask the woman who touched His garments, although she barely knew Him.

This column is from 40 Days with Jesus, my 40-day devotional on Christ’s life, teachings, and miracles, available for purchase on Amazon:

Brandon is the pastor of Bandana Baptist Church in Bandana, Kentucky, where he lives with his wife, Dakota, and their three dogs, Susie, Aries, and Dot. Brandon and Dakota are also foster parents through Sunrise Children’s Services of Kentucky. Brandon is also a published author and a religious columnist for the Advance Yeoman newspaper in Ballard County, Kentucky. He is also a devotional contributor for Kentucky Today, a news publication of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. His columns are also featured in the Times-Argus newspaper of Central City, Kentucky, West Kentucky News of western Kentucky, and the online blog, Reforming the Heart.

Bible Gleanings, devotions, Sermons

Healer of the Hurting | Bible Gleanings | May 17-18, 2025

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Word spread like wildfire at dawn’s first light. Everyone woke up a little earlier that morning, as people sprinted from village to village to herald the good news: Jesus had arrived on their shore. The Scripture says, “And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well” (Mark 6:54-56).

The sea bank, tranquil only moments before, immediately became a makeshift hospital, as every kind of sick person was brought to Jesus for healing. Certainly, Christ and the disciples were exhausted from a long night on the raging sea, but the Lord’s compassion for the hurting could not be exhausted. The same God-Man who walked on water now walked among the needy, with hands outstretched to heal the broken.

It was a remarkable sight. The blind began to see. The lame walked. The mute spoke. The crippled ran. Jesus turned no one away during this massive healing crusade.

However, more remarkable is that Jesus was silent through it all. Yet through His actions, He preached a sermon more powerful than words could express, namely, Jesus can be sought anywhere, anytime, by anyone in need. Christ is the Healer of the hurting, whose arms of grace are open to anyone willing to fall into them when they are afflicted. It doesn’t matter what you’ve done, where you’ve been, or what burdens you are carrying—Jesus stands ready to receive you. And we would do well to gather up our sorrow and suffering, dragging them into the presence of Christ, so that He can give us what we need. 

To clarify, Jesus is not a divine bellhop we can abuse to fetch anything we want. But like the needy multitude, we should run to Jesus with our needs, believing that He knows what is best for us, and that He will provide precisely what we need in His time. Lay your burdens, heartaches, and fears at His feet. And whether He relieves you of such afflictions or sustains you through them, His message is the same: He is there for you—anytime and at any place—and He will not turn you away.

This column is from 40 Days with Jesus, my 40-day devotional on Christ’s life, teachings, and miracles, available for purchase on Amazon:

Brandon is the pastor of Bandana Baptist Church in Bandana, Kentucky, where he lives with his wife, Dakota, and their three dogs, Susie, Aries, and Dot. Brandon and Dakota are also foster parents through Sunrise Children’s Services of Kentucky. Brandon is also a published author and a religious columnist for the Advance Yeoman newspaper in Ballard County, Kentucky. He is also a devotional contributor for Kentucky Today, a news publication of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. His columns are also featured in the Times-Argus newspaper of Central City, Kentucky, West Kentucky News of western Kentucky, and the online blog, Reforming the Heart.

Bible Gleanings, devotions

The Need-Meeter | Bible Gleanings | April 11-12, 2025

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He was not possessed by a demon. Leprosy had not afflicted him. He wasn’t confined to a mat like a paralytic. He wasn’t stricken with sensory impairments, such as blindness or deafness. He wasn’t hanging on by a thread—his life was relatively good, aside from his wilted hand: “He went on from there and entered their synagogue. And a man was there with a withered hand” (Matt. 12:9-10a).

The man with a withered hand didn’t have the worst condition in the world, but what he suffered from was a big deal to him. And, it was a big deal to Jesus. Christ didn’t say, “Look, man. You have it good compared to other folks who are really struggling. I don’t have time for this. Have you tried physical therapy?” Instead, Jesus cared about the man’s well-being and sufficiently met his needs. As Luke recorded, “And after looking around at them all he said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored” (Luke 6:10).

This was not among Jesus’ top ten greatest miracles. He fed multitudes with fish and loaves, calmed raging storms, and healed every kind of disease (Matt. 14:13-21; Mark 4:35-41; Acts 10:38). He even raised Lazarus from the grave (John 11:38-44)! But the man with the withered hand didn’t need a feast, an exorcism, or a resurrection—he simply needed his hand restored. And Christ was willing and able to give the man exactly what he needed, although it was modest compared to the other great miracles He performed during His earthly ministry.

The truth is, all of our needs are significant to God, no matter how insignificant they may seem in comparison to the greater needs of others. Nothing is too small for His attention or too great for His power. The Lord’s care is so personal and precise that He even cares about what we eat and what we wear (Matt. 6:30-33). And when you come to Him for provision, like the man with the withered hand, “God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil 4:19).

This column is from 40 Days with Jesus, my 40-day devotional on Christ’s life, teachings, and miracles, available for purchase on Amazon:

Brandon is the pastor of Bandana Baptist Church in Bandana, Kentucky, where he lives with his wife, Dakota, and their three dogs, Susie, Aries, and Dot. Brandon and Dakota are also foster parents through Sunrise Children’s Services of Kentucky. Brandon is also a published author and a religious columnist for the Advance Yeoman newspaper in Ballard County, Kentucky. He is also a devotional contributor for Kentucky Today, a news publication of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. His columns are also featured in the Times-Argus newspaper of Central City, Kentucky, West Kentucky News of western Kentucky, and the online blog, Reforming the Heart.

Bible Gleanings, devotions

The Personal Jesus | Bible Gleanings | January 4-5, 2025

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He had to get away from it all. Despite the endless films and paintings depicting Jesus as welcoming throngs and hordes with open arms, there were many times when Jesus pulled back (Mark 3:9; 7:24; Luke 5:15-16; John 6:15). However, such retreating certainly appears to be counterproductive to the development of an earthly ministry, don’t you think? After all, if you want to build a support base, wouldn’t you want to gain a larger following and increase the size and scope of your ministry?

Needless to say, establishing a large following and building a big ministry is not why Jesus came into the world—He came for needy sinners. And His continual withdrawal from the crowds doesn’t mean He outright despised them—rather, it demonstrates His preference to minister to people one-on-one. Jesus sought to know people on a name-and-need basis—He didn’t care about filling stadiums or boasting of great numbers. Jesus always prioritized intimate interactions over large-scale miracles, superficial popularity, or mass appeal. His mission was to seek and save the lost through personal encounters.

Jesus deliberately traveled through Samaria in order to minister to the Samaritan Woman and bring her the good news of salvation (John 4:1-26). Rather than making him a spectacle, Christ took the deaf man by the hand and led him away from the crowds—and He restored his speech and hearing in private (Mark 7:31-37). Jesus healed the blind man from Bethsaida away from prying eyes by leading him outside of the town (Mark 8:22-26). Amidst a multitude of invalids at Bethesda’s pool, Christ set His sights on only one man who had been crippled for thirty-eight years, and He healed him (John 5:1-15). And Jesus singled out little Zaccheus, who climbed a sycamore tree to view Him because of the crowd size—and Jesus focused on him instead of the masses (Luke 19:1-10).

Any of the individuals whom Christ healed and ministered to would tell you that you are more than just a name and face to Jesus. He loves you and cares about you as an individual. If He didn’t, He wouldn’t be keeping up with the number of hairs on your head (Matt. 10:30). Moreover, if God keeps track of the death of sparrows, then He certainly keeps track of the needs of His saints (Luke 12:6-7). The Lord even cares for you as though you were His only child: “Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me” (Isaiah 49:15-16).

The devotional column above is from my newest book, 40 Days with Jesus, which is a forty-day daily devotional focusing on the life, teachings, and miracles of Jesus. This book is available in hardcover on Amazon:

Brandon is the pastor of Bandana Baptist Church in Bandana, Kentucky, where he lives with his wife, Dakota, and their three dogs, Susie, Aries, and Dot. Brandon and Dakota are also foster parents through Sunrise Children’s Services of Kentucky. Brandon is also a published author and a religious columnist for the Advance Yeoman newspaper in Ballard County, Kentucky. He is also a devotional contributor for Kentucky Today, a news publication of the Kentucky Baptist Convention. His columns are also featured in the Times-Argus newspaper of Central City, Kentucky, West Kentucky News of western Kentucky, and the online blog, Reforming the Heart.