As I was reading my morning devotion in "Our Daily Bread" for the day of March 30, it really caused me to think about the difference between being clean & unclean spiritually. So much so, that I began to dig deeper into God's Word to see what He was saying to me. Henceforth, the following blog was born. I sense that there is someone out there that needs this. Please read on!
Reading through Luke 5:12-13, we see that Jesus is confronted by a leper. A leper was an unclean outcast from society. Leprosy was a disease that deformed the body by eating away at the flesh. Once a person had contracted leprosy, he or she was judged to be unclean and was cast out of society to go and live among others that had the disease. This disease reminds me of sin. Sin is a disease in much the same way that leprosy is. It eats away at the body, soul and spirit until it produces death. James 1:15b "....and sin, when it is full-grown gives birth to death." (NIV) This disease has, also, caused us to be cast out of God's society. Genesis 3:23-24 "So the Lord God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life."
Just like the leper, we have been judged unclean and must go and live among the disfigured & dying. This sin disease has affected all of mankind. Romans 3:23 ".......for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." But the story does not end there, praise God! As we continue to read Luke 5:12 we see that the man falls on his face at the feet of Jesus. ".....he fell on his face and begged him, 'Lord if you are willing, you can make me clean.'" This man was in desperation. He knew that he could not heal himself. The disease had destroyed his body and caused him to become a reject among his people. The loneliness in itself must have been overwhelming. And just like the leper, we cannot heal ourselves of the sin disease that would ultimately destroy our souls in a place called Hell if we did not have a cure. As we read on with Luke 5:13, we find the cure and the cure's name is Jesus. "Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. 'I am willing', he said. "'Be clean!' And immediately the leprosy left him." All it took was one touch from the King of Kings to restore the man and make him whole. In the same way we can be cured today so that this sin disease will not destroy our bodies and souls ulitimately in a place called Hell. However, in order to be cured, it takes desperation just like the leper. We must come to the end of our rope and realize that we cannot heal ourselves of the sin disease. We must realize we cannot become a part of God's society again until we have been cured. We must be willing to turn away from our sins and turn to Jesus for forgiveness and cleansing. When we have become desperate like the leper and fall on our face before Jesus in faith, repenting of our sins and asking Jesus to forgive us and cleanse us through His saving grace, then He will respond in the same way as He did the leper..........."I am willing........Be clean!"
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In February of 1208 Francis of Assisi dedicated his life to sharing the gospel with others. Francis and his followers wandered through the country as poor men, preaching the gospel and attending to those with needs. Within 8 years the Francis order numbered over 5,000 men. Francis later died in his mid-40's from tuberculoid leprosy. At the time of his death he was so beloved that his followers feared his body might be taken by the masses. So they entombed him beneath the altar of the Basilica of Saint Francis under a slab of granite, gravel, ten welded bands of iron, a 190-pound grill, and a 200-pound rock. The coffin was not discovered until the 19th century. His followers continued Francis' mission. Even to this day the Franciscan Order in all of its branches is the largest religious order in the Roman Catholic Church. While others view our afflictions as a sign of denunciation, just the opposite is often true. Despite Francis' affliction he was willing to do what ever was ask of him in the service of Christ Jesus.
ReplyDeleteMark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong. Heb 12:13 (NLT)
Keep up the good work my brother.
Hey Troy: It has been nearly a year since your last post. Never give up, post a new one soon. Let your light shine and bring glory to Him.
ReplyDeleteWell today makes one year. I know God has blessed you. Time to write about it and let the world know what God is doing in your life. Peace be with you.
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