Tuesday September 27, 2011

Read: Numbers 12

 

Leprosy is a horrid disease that we think little about in our modern, sanitary world. Leprosy, like all diseases starts small and quickly grows and festers. It can cause an incredible array of symptoms include loss of sensation, rotting flesh, mental symptoms and ugly tumour-like growths. There have been reports of lepers lying down to sleep and waking up with rats gnawing on their limbs. Yuk is right! Others have accidently burned themselves or cut off limbs because of the loss of sensation. Even with that little bit of background, the horror of seeing Miriam miraculously covered in leprosy is much clearer and easy to understand. This was no mere skin pigmentation issue. This was major catastrophe that had immense implications! It would be like God miraculously covering someone in skin cancer or pus filled boils.  But by the grace of God, Miriam was healed of her leprosy.

 

Now let’s go to Jesus as He comes down the mountain side, confronted by the leper. All Israel knew that no one in the history of Israel had been healed of leprosy except Miriam. Naaman the Syrian had been healed but he was certainly not an Israelite. King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He was not healed. As the leper came before Jesus, he knelt down before Him. Jesus knew that  if He healed him, He’d be making an incredible statement about His own identity. If Jesus could restore him, He’d make the 6 o’clock news around the entire globe.

 

Jesus does heal the man! He doesn’t do a dance or mix up a potion. He simply speaks the words, ‘Be clean’, and immediately the man is cleansed of his incurable condition. By uttering a word Jesus makes the untouchable touchable, the unlovable lovable, the unacceptable acceptable. Who are the people in your community that Jesus needs to touch. Dying aids victims need the touch of Jesus. Babies born with heroin addiction or alcohol addiction need the love of Jesus. Street dwellers and the homeless alcoholics need to feel the loving embrace of Jesus. Prostitutes need to feel Jesus’ unconditional love. Will you take Jesus to them? Will you reach out to them with the love of Christ? Will you share the embrace of Jesus with them? Are you willing to love them as Jesus Himself is willing?

 

Activ8: Spend the day praying that God would show you who or what group of people you can be willing to reach out to with the love of Jesus.

 

Prayer Points:

> Pray for the British leaders that they will heed the call to change the culture in the aftermath of the riots.