Mark 1:40 - 45. In a paraphrase, a leper approaches Jesus and begs, on his knees, for Jesus to heal him. Jesus has compassion on him and heals him. Jesus then commands him not to tell anyone, but the leper can't keep it a secret and he goes and tells. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter towns freely.
Looking at this from the leper's point of view, I would have been ecstatic that Jesus was willing to heal me. However, Jesus sends him off with a "strong warning" as the passage reads, "See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." (v44) It would have been very difficult to keep this a secret, and the leper didn't; he went and told everyone. Verse 45 states that he began to talk freely, spreading the news. Then, it hit home with me as I was putting myself in the leper's position and thinking about how excited I would have been to be healed of my leprosy. I have been healed of my leprosy, called sin. Christ's shed blood has healed me completely, yet, do I go and speak freely, spreading the news of what He's done for me as I would have with a physical sickness? I am shamed by the fact that I often tend to shy away from sharing with others when I should be so ecstatic about my spiritual healing.
In the study, 40 Days in the Word, Rick Warren raises two questions:
From the viewpoint of the leper: "What are you desperate for God to do in your life?
I want to have the eyes and heart of God. I want my heart to break for what breaks God's heart. I am so "stuck" in my own little world and circle that it's hard to get out of that comfort zone to reach those who are in desperate need of Christ's healing.
From the viewpoint of Jesus: "Are you willing to touch 'untouchable' people?'
You know that person who is different, who looks and acts differently; that person or people group who has some disease I am afraid of "catching" ... Answering honestly, "no." I like my little comfort zone, my little box, but God didn't create me to stay hidden in my box and my comfort zone.
Who is God going to bring across my path today who needs Christ's love and healing? Will I make the most of the opportunity or will I run from it?
Father, give me Your heart and Your eyes to see as You see and love as You love. "Open up my eyes to the things unseen. Show me how to love like You have loved. Break my heart for what breaks Yours..." (from the worship song Hosanna )
Looking at this from the leper's point of view, I would have been ecstatic that Jesus was willing to heal me. However, Jesus sends him off with a "strong warning" as the passage reads, "See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." (v44) It would have been very difficult to keep this a secret, and the leper didn't; he went and told everyone. Verse 45 states that he began to talk freely, spreading the news. Then, it hit home with me as I was putting myself in the leper's position and thinking about how excited I would have been to be healed of my leprosy. I have been healed of my leprosy, called sin. Christ's shed blood has healed me completely, yet, do I go and speak freely, spreading the news of what He's done for me as I would have with a physical sickness? I am shamed by the fact that I often tend to shy away from sharing with others when I should be so ecstatic about my spiritual healing.
In the study, 40 Days in the Word, Rick Warren raises two questions:
From the viewpoint of the leper: "What are you desperate for God to do in your life?
I want to have the eyes and heart of God. I want my heart to break for what breaks God's heart. I am so "stuck" in my own little world and circle that it's hard to get out of that comfort zone to reach those who are in desperate need of Christ's healing.
From the viewpoint of Jesus: "Are you willing to touch 'untouchable' people?'
You know that person who is different, who looks and acts differently; that person or people group who has some disease I am afraid of "catching" ... Answering honestly, "no." I like my little comfort zone, my little box, but God didn't create me to stay hidden in my box and my comfort zone.
Who is God going to bring across my path today who needs Christ's love and healing? Will I make the most of the opportunity or will I run from it?
Father, give me Your heart and Your eyes to see as You see and love as You love. "Open up my eyes to the things unseen. Show me how to love like You have loved. Break my heart for what breaks Yours..." (from the worship song Hosanna )
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