SCRIPTURE - Matthew 8:1-3
When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.
OBSERVATION
This is Matthew's first mention of Jesus performing a miracle of healing. Multitudes of people begin following Jesus because of other miracles he performs and the teachings he gives, and many with needs seek Jesus to meet with them.
Leprosy was a painful disease in many ways, because those who had it were also social outcasts condemned to hopelessly live in colonies with other lepers. This man with leprosy boldly approaches Jesus, believing that he really can heal him if he wants to. Jesus says he does, and it is finished!
APPLICATION
Desiring healing comes with a wide array of thoughts and emotions:
"God has the power to heal- will He or won't He?"
"I technically don't need to be healed to keep loving God."
"Believing for healing is scary because if it doesn't happen, I'll be disappointed."
One thing we know: it is God's will to heal. It's just a matter of when. We will all be healed of all ailments and conditions when we are with God in heaven. Even so, while we are here on earth, God does heal miraculously and often. When we see a need for healing, why not bring it to God and say as the leper did: "If you're willing, you can heal this right now." If God does it, we praise Him! If He doesn't, that doesn't change how we feel about Him. He's still good, and we can trust that in His wisdom, that wasn't the right time for it.
PRAYER
Do you or someone you know need healing? What do you have to lose by asking for it? It's not up to you to do the healing; it's up to God. But, if we never give God the opportunity to do the miraculous, He's not going to force it on us. It'd be better for us to be remembered as people who gave God every opportunity to do a miracle than never because we lacked the faith to ask. God can do it. Why not give Him the chance?
"God, I believe you have the power to heal any disease, ailment, or condition on this earth. I also know that your understanding is greater than mine and that you see things I don't. That said, I ask that if you are willing, you would heal ________ (fill in your own words here). Give me the faith to believe that you can do this if you will it. In Jesus' name, amen."