Verse of the Day 3/24

Through the Bible - Joshua 13-14, Luke 5:1-26

 

Good morning,

In yesterday's verse we saw that Jesus came to bring the good news to the poor, the blind, the oppressed and the captive.  For today's verse we go to today's reading in Luke 5 where Jesus heals a man "covered" with leprosy.

"The malady advances from one stage to another with slow and certain ruin. "Life still lingers amid the desolation;" the joints, and hands, and feet lose their power; and the body "collapses," or falls together in a form hideous and awful." - (Barnes notes)  In Jesus day it was pretty much a hopeless situation.  This type of illness displays it's own form of oppression, captivity and being destitute.  Long term illnesses and circumstances in life can still have the same kind of spiritual effect on us, spreading to all areas of our lives.  Where are we to turn?  Not to the world, not "gold" as so many commercials tell us to go for security in these troubled time, but God.

Luke 5:12 In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. "Lord," he said, "if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean."

 

13 Jesus reached out and touched him. "I am willing," he said. "Be healed!" And instantly the leprosy disappeared.  NLT

 

One of the things that you'll notice about most of Jesus' miracles is that they occurred in the course of life.  Walking along the road or through a village.  I don't recall a lot of pre-arranged "healings".  He went to preach the good news and people came to HIm for healing whether at the service  (as is the case later in chapter 5) or somewhere along the road.

 

We may have ideas of serving in some kind of ministry where everything will be planned and laid out down to the last detail including an "alter call".

 

What we learn from Jesus is that He is along with us every day, every step of the way.  If our eyes are open, He will bring opportunities to minister, to serve, to show compassion as we walk along the road, go to work, to a friends home or to the mall.

 

We may not have the power to heal of ourselves but we can point to the one who can bring physical and spiritual healing.

 

I quoted the song "Never Let Go" the other day.  One line from that song keeps coming back to me - " I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on".  That is what we, what I need to convey.  To give hope, to encourage others to hold on looking back on how the Lord has blessed and delivered me from personal troubles.  "There will be an end to these troubles" but until that day comes, seek Him, praise Him.

 

In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
http://mikesvotd.blogspot.com
Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV
Luke 5:12-17

 

Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy

 

12 In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. "Lord," he said, "if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean."

 

13 Jesus reached out and touched him. "I am willing," he said. "Be healed!" And instantly the leprosy disappeared. 14 Then Jesus instructed him not to tell anyone what had happened. He said, "Go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed."

 

15 But despite Jesus' instructions, the report of his power spread even faster, and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.  NLT