Mark 1:40-42 – And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.
THEME OF THE DAY. HE CAN AND HE WILL. Today’s nugget isn’t for everyone. If you are a person who has it all together, experience no spiritual struggles, are quite content on where you are spiritually, are oblivious to spiritual warfare, go through your life relatively problem-free and don’t have any concerns over sin, don’t grieve over spiritual inconsistencies in your life and are satisfied with your time in the Word, prayer, and the other things of God, then this nugget isn’t for you. You may stop reading and maybe we can connect with you tomorrow on something that might be relevant in your life.
However, if you are what Jesus calls “a bruised reed” or “flickering wick” type of Christian, come alongside my friend. This one is for us. When our Lord calls His people “bruised reeds” or “flickering wicks”, He is referring to their weaknesses (Isaiah 42:3; Matthew 12:20). He is identifying His true followers; those who are spiritually sensitive, timid, humble, lamb-like and are keenly aware of how weak they are when it comes to spiritual growth and spiritual battles. A literal reed is frail and easily snapped in two pieces with little effort. And a flickering wick? Just a slight puff of air or breeze with blow this candle out. There are so many times in our walks with the Lord, we feel like bruised reeds and flickering wicks. And that is good. It shows the work of God’s Spirit as He humbles and makes us see what we truly are; a people in constant need of God’s strengthening power and grace. Just like the leper in today’s scripture. He serves us well as an example of the timid heart in God’s “bruised reeds” and “flickering wicks” people.
When God begins to show us our sin, weaknesses, and how far we are from being like Him, it can be overwhelming. And if we are not careful, as bruised reeds and flickering wicks, we may listen to the lies of Satan telling us, “Look how weak, sinful and messed up you are. God won’t help you. You are hopeless. He won’t extend mercy to you.” With the blessing of being spiritually sensitive, there is a real danger of being overly sensitive and making God out to be what He isn’t.
In today’s scripture, the leper was desperate, like us. He had no possibility of curing and helping himself, like us. And he went to the only place of help, the Lord Jesus, like us. But notice what he said – “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” There was not one question in this man’s heart about God’s ability to help him. He had rock-solid faith in God’s ability. He wasn’t as solid in God’s willingness. And we are easily like the leper. We don’t question God’s power, but if we focus on our sinfulness, as bruised reeds, flickering wicks are prone to do, we may be a little slow trusting God’s willingness. But notice how the Lord Jesus handles such people who have a shaky faith in His willingness to help them. He doesn’t delay and leave them in their unbelief. He reaches out and meets us right at our point of need and proclaims, “I am not only able as your God to heal you but I am willing as your God to heal you.” Yes, God’s powerful hand can help us and God’s affectionate heart ensures He will help us. Always remember and exercise faith in our God who is the One who can and will be our source of strength in times of need. He has displayed His ability and willingness time and time again in our lives. He can be trusted to do so again.
PRAYER: “Father, I praise You for being both a capable God and willing God to be my God.”
QUOTE: “God’s power makes Him able to help us and God’s love makes Him willing to help us.”