In Matthew 8:2-3, we read: “And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, ‘Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, ’I am willing; be cleansed.’ Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”
“Come sit with me, Timmy. I’ll tell you about it. Then you decide.” Grandfather sat in his chair.
"Eli came from the field, holding his arm against his chest. His wife, asked about it. ‘I bruised it, Naomi. Nothing to worry about.' The next morning, in pain, he insisted he complete his work. Another night of sleeplessness. Something had to be done. 'I’ll go to the priest.’
“The priest looked at Eli’s hand, shook his head. ‘Leprosy. You must leave--live in the leper’s cave.'
“‘Please, let me tell my children goodbye.’ The priest shook his head. Eli walked away. To live a life of painful exile.
“Naomi and the children brought food, left it on the rock by the cave. The children married, left home. Still, Naomi came.
“‘Have you heard, Eli? The rabbi is coming. They say he heals the sick, even raises the dead. Let’s go hear him,’ his friend said.
“We can’t be near healthy people.” But he decided to go. How if? He didn’t dare answer the question. In the company of the excited people, they didn’t notice Eli.
"Eli walked up to the rabbi, fell down and worshiped Him. ‘If you are willing, Lord, you can make me clean.' The Lord Jesus touched him. ‘I’m willing.’ The Lord told him not to tell anyone, but to go to the priest, and offer the sacrifice required by Moses.”
Infected with leprosy of sin, no matter what cure I tried, the festering sores of unforgiveness, jealousy, and (you fill the blank) reminded me it was incurable. Then the Lord Jesus came. He, my King, said to me, “I’m willing. I’ll take your place. Only the healing power of My blood can wash you clean, make you new. (Many believed you would be healed if the King touched you.)
Kingdom Thinking. And you? The Lord Jesus stands before you and offers His everlasting love and forgiveness. He will cleanse you. He is willing. Are you? You decide.
“Come sit with me, Timmy. I’ll tell you about it. Then you decide.” Grandfather sat in his chair.
"Eli came from the field, holding his arm against his chest. His wife, asked about it. ‘I bruised it, Naomi. Nothing to worry about.' The next morning, in pain, he insisted he complete his work. Another night of sleeplessness. Something had to be done. 'I’ll go to the priest.’
“The priest looked at Eli’s hand, shook his head. ‘Leprosy. You must leave--live in the leper’s cave.'
“‘Please, let me tell my children goodbye.’ The priest shook his head. Eli walked away. To live a life of painful exile.“Naomi and the children brought food, left it on the rock by the cave. The children married, left home. Still, Naomi came.
“‘Have you heard, Eli? The rabbi is coming. They say he heals the sick, even raises the dead. Let’s go hear him,’ his friend said.
“We can’t be near healthy people.” But he decided to go. How if? He didn’t dare answer the question. In the company of the excited people, they didn’t notice Eli.
"Eli walked up to the rabbi, fell down and worshiped Him. ‘If you are willing, Lord, you can make me clean.' The Lord Jesus touched him. ‘I’m willing.’ The Lord told him not to tell anyone, but to go to the priest, and offer the sacrifice required by Moses.”Infected with leprosy of sin, no matter what cure I tried, the festering sores of unforgiveness, jealousy, and (you fill the blank) reminded me it was incurable. Then the Lord Jesus came. He, my King, said to me, “I’m willing. I’ll take your place. Only the healing power of My blood can wash you clean, make you new. (Many believed you would be healed if the King touched you.)
Kingdom Thinking. And you? The Lord Jesus stands before you and offers His everlasting love and forgiveness. He will cleanse you. He is willing. Are you? You decide.