LUKE 5:12-13 – While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him
THEME OF THE DAY. THE WILLING HEART OF CHRIST. We are not unlike the leper in today’s scripture. In fact, we are very much like him. Here are two similarities. First, we have an incurable disease. His was physical – leprosy. Ours is spiritual – sin. We also share a strong temptation that is really the height of blasphemy toward the Son of God. What was the leper’s issue with Jesus? Notice what he doesn’t say or question. We don’t read him crying out, “Lord, if you are able, you can make me clean.” He never questioned Jesus’ ability to heal him, but he struggled big time if Jesus was willing to heal him. And we do the same, don’t we?
Not a one of us questions the power of Christ to do anything; to include the creation of a new heart within us, to forgive us our sins, and to grow us into His likeness. After all, Christ is God and we hold to that conviction with zeal. However, how often when we have sinned for the umpteenth time, allowed spiritual indifference to lodge in our hearts, and when awakened to our poor spiritual state, do we question the Lord’s willingness to give us grace, to forgive us, and restore us? Please don’t say “I never doubt His willingness toward me. Sinful unbelief is never a problem with me.” In love, allow me to encourage you, “If that is you, then two things to consider. First, you don’t really grasp what spiritual warfare is truly about. And you really don’t know yourself well.” In the Garden of Eden, the devil started his devastating work on Eve by getting her to doubt God’s goodness. He continues today. The leper, and we, will feel the same tactic from the evil one. But be lifted up. The Lord Jesus doesn’t chastise or rebuke the leper or us for our struggles with unbelief. What He does makes the doubting heart soar in gratitude and belief. He heals the leper. He grants his desire. He proves His willing heart. And the Lord Jesus will do the same for us!
So, daily fight the tactics of the devil and our remaining sin tempting us to question the willing heart of Jesus. He has proved over and over His heart is just that – willing to save, willing to comfort, willing to strengthen, and willing to meet our greatest needs on our painful journey to heaven. Trust Him. Turn to His promises. Lean on His promises, and time and time again, we will encounter and experience the willing heart of Jesus. What joy! What peace! What blessings belong to us from the willing heart of Jesus!
PRAYER: “Father, help me to not doubt the willingness of You, Your Son, and Your Spirit to help, guide, and protect me.”
QUOTE: “Don’t let the devil and sin draw you to doubt the willing heart of Jesus. It is the height of blasphemy to do so.”