January 10th

Matthew 8

At the time when this was written, leprosy was a deadly and terrifying disease. There was no known cure and it was a highly contagious disease. Yet, when this leper begged for Jesus to heal him, Jesus reached out and touched him, and from the passage there was no indication that He gave a second thought to the sores that were all over this man's body.  Was it His divinity that made Him immune to leprosy?  My guess is yes, but what if we looked at the scenario a little deeper. What if we were to look at leprosy as we look at sin. I'm not saying that the leper sinned and that was the reason for his infirmity, but we might agree that like leprosy, there is no man made known cure for sin. It is something we all live with as we are exposed to it daily.  Perhaps Jesus wants us to know that just as His touch was the only cure for the leper, the only cure for our sin is His touch. Jesus reached out and touched the leper because the leper recognized Jesus was His only hope for healing. Once Jesus touched him, the lepers skin was restored and there were no sores.  Much like the leper, we have to reach out to the hand that is already extended to us ask Jesus to come into our lives in order to be cleansed and spiritually restored.  We have to invite Jesus into our lives and allow Him to touch our hearts and reveal to us the places that need His healing touch.  Only He can heal us from the inside out. I pray that as we go through this listening series we take time to hear His gentle whisper and invitation to accept His loving hand that is extended waiting and longing to heal the leper.

Randi