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As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” Luke 17:12-13
In Jesus’ day, leprosy was a terrible disease. While it is treatable today, during Biblical times it was a slow moving and eventually fatal disease. Small skin lesions would begin to eat away at fingers, toes and facial features and in later stages destroy the nervous system and lead to death.
While the physical disease was horrific, it may have been the emotional and spiritual part of the disease that was more painful to endure. Since there was no cure for leprosy and it was considered highly contagious. When a person was diagnosed with leprosy they were sent away from society so that the people would be spared. The leper was required to let his hair grow long, wear torn clothes, cover he lower part of his face and call out “Unclean! Unclean!” when a person without leprosy approached.
Often lepers would live alone or in colonies just outside the city wall. Imagine being a spouse or a child and only get to see your father from a distance. Imagine the emotional heartache and the financial burden that would be placed on the family because ‘daddy can’t live at home anymore.’
But it gets worse! Not only did society reject and isolate the leper, the church did too! Leprosy was considered a symbol of sin. Therefore if a person got leprosy it was assumed that the person (and perhaps the family) had sin in their lives. As a result, the family of a leper was under just as much suspicion as the leper when it came to sin.
When the ten lepers in Luke 17 saw Jesus they approached him as far as was appropriate and begged for mercy. They knew their need for healing and they had no doubt heard about this itinerant preacher who healed people everywhere he went.
The lesson each of us can learn from the ten lepers is that we all have a tremendous need for Jesus. We all have sin in our lives that keep us from a relationship with God. We all have a fatal disease called ‘being human’ that will eventually lead to death. The death rate among humans is 100%.
The advantage we have over the lepers is that we can hide most of our sin if we choose. People who are addicted to drugs and alcohol, pornography, anger/abuse and other ‘diseases of the soul’ have done quite well at covering up the secret lives they live. However, God sees through the façade. He isn’t fooled by religious activity or many words of assurance. Like the leper, our private lives are wide open to God.
I’m thankful today that I don’t have to hide behind all sorts of masks and disguises. I’m thankful that Jesus sees my faults as clearly as he saw the leperous sores on the men he came across that day and accepts me as I am with all my faults.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus like the leper, I have a disease. I can hide it from others but I know I can’t hide if from you. Thank you that even though you know my weakness, you love me just the same. Thank you that because of your forgiveness I don’t have to call out “Unclean! Unclean!” Amen
My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away. Psalm 38:11 (NIV)
I’ve heard the story a hundred times if I’ve heard it once. In fact I’ve experienced it myself.
Those who believe in Jesus Christ and believe in marriage, find themselves in the ‘Divorced Believers Club’. Joining is free but the dues are pain and rejection. Once you are in though, you are a life-long member.
Those who profess Christ as savior but struggle with their sexual orientation discover that while the church preaches grace and forgiveness and acceptance, their actions don’t always follow those guidelines. Don’t get me wrong here. There are Biblical standards that must be addressed regarding the activity involved, but the person is still created in God’s image and deserving of His grace as much as the next person.
Then there is the person who makes the horrific mistake of getting involved intimately with someone they shouldn’t and get caught. They receive a life-long ‘sentence’ from the courts of the land (as perhaps they should) but they are still created in the image of God. Jesus died for their sin and weakness as much as anyone else.
Bear in mind, I’m not talking about the person who professes to believe and openly lives a life that shames Christ with no remorse for their position. I refer more to those who have recognized their position and asked for forgiveness. They are struggling to rebuild a life they themselves have destroyed.
The Psalmist knew the pain of being rejected at the very time he needed the support and encouragement of his friends. It was almost as if others avoided him because they were afraid that they would be pulled down with him.
Here’s the good news for those of us that have made mistakes in life and feel the scorn of other believers. Jesus knows your pain! Imagine how he felt hanging going through the whole crucifixion scenario and watching his friends abandon him. They all ‘stood afar off’ when he needed them most so he knows your pain.
Jesus Christ doesn’t condone your actions if they are contrary to his Word, but he is willing to reach out and forgive you. He knows the abandonment you feel. He knows the discouragement and shame that attack. He understands your weaknesses. He welcomes you into his family regardless of your past.
We as Christ’s Church, as his body are called to bring in those who have stumbled. To encourage where encouragement is needed; to befriend when all other friends have abandoned them; to lift up those who have fallen. This is the great challenge that lay ahead, to be a blessing to those in need.
PRAYER: Father God, I pray today for those who are struggling to get life right. I ask that you would use me and others to come along side them to show them the acceptance, grace, forgiveness and understanding you have shown me. Help me be sensitive and wise in my dealings with them for your name’s sake. Amen.
You, Lord, know every one of my deepest desires, and my noisy groans are no secret to you.Psalm 38:9(CEV)
The low fuel light comes on as he’s driving to work and his heart sinks. No money for gas, no options available. He has to get to work but doesn’t know how he’ll get home. Borrowing gas money again didn’t seem like an option he wanted to visit. God, why…
She turns out the light and lays her head on the pillow. She did it again. She promised herself she’d stay faithful, stay pure. More importantly, she promised God. What if she gets pregnant? What if he finds out? What if? O God, please…
The pop-up on the internet entices him. Three hours later he realizes he’s wasted an entire afternoon. How can he do this to his wife? How can he do this to his God? Who can he tell? Everyone looks to him as some spiritual leader, if only they knew, but God knows. Jesus, I’m so sorry…
It’s 2 AM. The silent breathing in the next room turns to a muffled cry. “I so wish I hadn’t had him…” She catches herself…again. How can she feel this way. She wanted a baby, no THEY wanted a baby. But now, after the accident she’s alone to tend to the house, the finances, everything. The guilt she bears towards her child overwhelms here. ‘If only.’ “God how can I…”
During those deepest, darkest times of your life he hears the groans of your heart; the groans no one else knows about. The feelings you would never be able to tell anyone.
Those regrets? He hears them.
The guilt and shame? He sees the scars.
The fear and worry? Knows about that too.
No matter who you are. No matter where you are in life. Whether you are a successful businessman, a highly esteemed ministry, a best selling author or a homeless person looking for the next fix. You have those feelings, those inner groanings of the soul that you bear alone. They can attack at night, in broad daylight, during times of celebration and times of grief. Sometimes your human soul can’t even find the words to express the emotion you feel.
It’s during those times that your Heavenly Father longs to come by your side. God understands the language of half words. He knows the feelings interrupted with sighs, and interprets them as the breaths of a broken heart. Not only does he hear your broken thoughts, he has promised to never judge, never condemn, never get his ‘shocked look.’
Don’t allow the guilt, the worry, or the weakness of your soul deceive you into thinking God doesn’t care. He cares deeply and knows your thoughts before you think them.
PRAYER: Father, I praise you for the promise you have made to stay by my side. I’ve pushed you away at times. I’ve rebelled and stumbled in my weakness. I have feelings, doubts and fears I can’t express to my closest friends. I thank you that you hear me and love me. Amen.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)
I ‘discovered’ these verses years ago as I led my congregation through a study of the book of Ephesians. Since then these verses have been the basis of nearly every service I’ve presided over. As often happens for those of us who read the Bible regularly, sometimes the true power of a passage gets lost in the midst of other verses.
Meditate on this prayer the Apostle Paul leaves us. Contemplate its meaning for you in the midst of the battle you are going through right now.
‘To Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine…’
The Amplified Bible states it like this: Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]—To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).
He is able to carry out his purpose in our lives ‘superabundantly’ and ‘infinitely beyond our highest…dreams’.
What comfort in a day when time and again our dreams get smashed by broken or stressed relationships, financial ruin, political upheaval and poor health.
When I seek refuge from the pain of abuse from others he is there offering comfort like no one else.
When I am humbled by the guilt of my own rebellion because I’ve followed my own desires, my own passions and left the things I know I should do behind, he is there to forgive, cleanse me from all unrighteousness, restore me to his kingdom.
When I am confused by the actions of others and my own feelings of doubt and desire he shows me his peace and walks me through the dark forest of distraction and confusion.
So why don’t we see this power in our lives? What is it that keeps me from accomplishing my dreams, my goals, my wildest imagination? Too often I have to confess that my desires, passions and dreams are self-centered and self-focused. They may have a basis in good things, but ultimately they are to make me feel good and look good.
The important thing to focus on isn’t my failure to succeed but my definition of success. Do I earnestly seek my own comfort and vindication, or to I seek to see God’s power working through me for HIS glory, not mine.
PRAYER: Father, as I go through this day let my mind dwell on the meaning of these verses. Help me to grasp the vast power I have available when on my knees in prayer. Let me see that power exhibited in my private thoughts and my public actions. Amen.
Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to me, “I am your salvation.” Psalm 35:3
There are times in life when it seems the enemy of our soul has us completely surrounded. During those times everything we do seems to be a struggle.
Have we lost faith in Christ? No.
Do we believe all his promises? Yes.
But in the deep recesses of our souls that doesn’t seem to be enough. The battle for peace of heart rages between the emotion of our current reality and what we know to be fact. The trust, confidence and faith we talk confidently about becomes a cover-up for the despair, worry and heartache deep inside.
A friend of mine is going to bring his daughter to treatment this weekend. Drugs and alcohol have taken her captive. He and his wife have ‘done everything right’ in bringing her up in the church. They’ve prayed with her and for her. But she took a different route. In the mean time his parent’s health is failing and he is battling a life-threatening disease.
The prayer of David rings true. We pray that he will fight our battles, that he will brandish spear and javelin against the enemies that war against our souls and take those we love captive.
We plead with him to block the path of those who pursue us: guilt, worry, fear, bitterness, anger, fatigue (and the list goes on).
Yet in those times when it seems our very heart will be ripped from our chests, we long most of all to hear his voice reminding us, “I am your salvation.”
“I am your Salvation.” Let those words seep into the cracks of your soul. Let them linger for awhile. The battle isn’t yours. Salvation (yours or anyone else’s) isn’t your responsibility. The Great Warrior, the King of Kings, the Lord of all creation will see you to ultimate victory.
Will there be battles? Yes. Will there be dark nights in which the cold is relentless and his presence seems impossible to find? Unfortunately, yes. But during those times, if we take time to listen, if we seek him in the darkness, he speaks to the most intimate, inner corners of our hearts, “I am your salvation.”
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, during those times when I feel most alone and weakest. During those times when the battle seems too great and I feel alone, defeated and unable to see your light. Let me hear the gentle whisper of your promise that you are my salvation. Amen.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 