Conversations with Jesus - The Leper
By Cheryl Harrison
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. Matthew 8:2-3
The leper's separation from everyone, including his family, offers nothing but pain and rejection. He is considered unclean, and no one dares to come near his disease. However, through the eyes of an outcast, Jesus seems different. Grasping at his last thread of hope, the leper humbly kneels before the healer and prays.
We learn several lessons from his prayer. First, the leper knows Jesus is Lord. Second, he makes no demands. On the contrary, his humble prayer placed priority on the will of God. Scripture echoes this thought… “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us--whatever we ask--we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15).
A heart yielded to God’s will always produces prayer that moves God’s heart. This type of surrender is precious to the Lord. It usually occurs when we realize He is our only hope. The leper trusted Jesus to heal his disease, and God honored his faith. Separation from his family ended with the cleansing of his body, but, better yet, separation from God ended with the cleansing of his sins.
Today’s freelance Christian writer has a passion to write for the Lord. She lives in Seabrook Texas. Contact |
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