Dear Me,
Slow down. In life, in doing too many things and especially in reading scripture. Too often I read scripture and I don't really take in what I'm reading. But when I read in Matthew 8, a piece of scripture that I have read a few times before, these two verses struck me differently this time and stuck with me.
A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reach out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy." Matthew 8:2-3
A man with leprosy. I did a little research and found that people who suffer from leprosy experience disfigurement of the skin and bones, twisting of the limbs, and curling of the fingers or toes. Tumor like growth often occurs on their skin and their noses may collapse. In biblical times, and even in a lot of societies today, people with leprosy suffered stereotypes (it was considered a curse from God often associated with sin) and banishment from their family or neighbors.
came and knelt before him. I don't know the extent of this man's leprosy, but based on some of the research I did - it would have been hard to 'come' to Jesus. Often, people with leprosy cannot walk because their limbs are disfigured. But either way, this man came to Jesus and knelt before him.
Slow down. In life, in doing too many things and especially in reading scripture. Too often I read scripture and I don't really take in what I'm reading. But when I read in Matthew 8, a piece of scripture that I have read a few times before, these two verses struck me differently this time and stuck with me.
A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reach out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy." Matthew 8:2-3
A man with leprosy. I did a little research and found that people who suffer from leprosy experience disfigurement of the skin and bones, twisting of the limbs, and curling of the fingers or toes. Tumor like growth often occurs on their skin and their noses may collapse. In biblical times, and even in a lot of societies today, people with leprosy suffered stereotypes (it was considered a curse from God often associated with sin) and banishment from their family or neighbors.
came and knelt before him. I don't know the extent of this man's leprosy, but based on some of the research I did - it would have been hard to 'come' to Jesus. Often, people with leprosy cannot walk because their limbs are disfigured. But either way, this man came to Jesus and knelt before him.
and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." If you are willing - what a beautiful picture of humility before our Lord. On his knees, in pain, broken, alone - but having complete reverence to say, if you are willing. Not saying - heal me. Not saying, do this thing... Just a simple, if you are willing. Then he said, you can make me clean. He didn't doubt whether Jesus could do it, he didn't even ask him if he could heal him - he already knew that it was the LORD, and that he could do it. Only, if he was willing. His will, the Lord's willingness, not the leper willing the Lord to do it.
Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. Now this is where I got all worked up and started balling like a baby. Jesus touched the man, the leper. The same man that was on outcast, that hundreds of people probably walked by, maybe refused to look at - Jesus touched him. And as I thought about this more, I wondered... just how long had it been since this man had been touched? Lepers were deemed cursed. In my mind's eye, I bet he had not been touched or shown love in a long, long time. I can't even begin to imagine what he felt just to be touched by not just a human, but by Jesus. I can only imagine the love he felt in that moment.
"I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" I need to grab a tissue. I am willing. Be clean. I don't have words, because the words of Jesus are enough here. I am willing - be clean!
Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Just like that, he was cleansed. It is amazing how the touch of Jesus. No. The LOVE of Jesus can cleanse us - immediately.
This piece of scripture has got me all worked up in more ways than one. It is time to ask the Lord to examine my heart... again! This dying to self is SUCH a daily thing, and this piece of scripture reminded me of that.
Are there any lepers among me? Do I refuse them love because of the way they look, or talk, or act? Do I dismiss them as hopeless? Do I only pray for them from afar? Give me the heart, Lord, to show them love the same way that Jesus did to the leper. To touch them. To love them. To be willing, always.
Remind me Lord, that in all of my pain, the lonely places in my heart - to come. Humble myself, kneel before you and say - Lord, if you are willing. Cleanse me of my self righteous thoughts, my roller coaster emotions, my selfish desires and let my heart beat as one with yours, Lord. Make my thoughts, my emotions and my desires be the same as yours. Give me the same heart as you and opportunities to love all people that you died on the cross for.
For I too have been a leper.. stereotyped, treated like an outcast. But you were willing. You touched me. You loved me. You made me clean.
- R
No comments:
Post a Comment