Devotions June 30

Devotions June 30, 2021 Being His Hands and Feet.

Prayer Walk At 9 am Wednesday

Bible Project Holiness https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9vn5UvsHvM

Scripture:

Matthew 8:2-3 NIV  A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."  (3)  Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.

Message:

"Mat_8:1-34 is a chapter of miracles. Let us look at these miracles as a whole, before we proceed to deal with them in detail. In the chapter there are seven miraculous happenings.

(i) There is the healing of the leper (Mat_8:1-4). Here we see Jesus touching the untouchable. The leper was banished from the society of men; to touch him, and even to approach him, was to break the Law. Here we see the man who was kept at arm's length by all men wrapped around with pity and the compassion of the love of God. " (DSB)

When you look at the list of miracles leper, centurions servant, Peter's Motherinlaw, demon-possessed (twice) , the sick, the storm. Half of them would have made Jesus unclean ceremonially according to O.T. Law but instead Jesus makes them clean! (watch the Bible project video linked above) Not only ceremonially but physically and spiritually in the case of the demonized.

"a. Behold, a leper came and worshiped Him: The condition of leprosy is a model of sin and its effects. It is a contagious, debilitating disease that corrupts a man and makes him essentially dead while alive. i. Lepers were universally scorned by society and religion. They were especially despised by the Rabbis, who saw their state as the particular judgment of God. ii. In Jesus’ time rabbis spoke about how badly they would treat lepers. One boasted that he refused to buy even an egg on a street where he saw a leper, another bragged that he threw rocks at lepers when he saw them.b. Lord, if You are willing: The leper has no doubt whatsoever about the ability of Jesus to heal. His only question is if Jesus is willing to heal.c. Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean: This leper wants more than healing. He wants cleansing, not only from the leprosy, but from all its debilitating effects on his life and soul.i. In addition, this is the first place in the gospel where Jesus is called Lord; a term that was particularly meaningful in light of the fact that the word Lord was used to translate the Hebrew word Yahweh.3. (Mat_8:3) Jesus touches the leper and he is cleansed.Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.a. He put out His hand and touched him: This is a bold and compassionate touch from Jesus. It was against the ceremonial law to touch a leper, which made the touch all the more meaningful to the afflicted man. Of course, as soon as Jesus touched him, he was no longer a leper!i. Jesus often varied the manner of healing, and usually He chose a particular manner that would be meaningful to the afflicted individual.b. I am willing: Jesus’ assurance that I am willing simply answers the man’s question, and gives us a starting point for the times we wonder if Jesus is willing to heal. We should assume Jesus is willing to heal, unless He shows us differently.(David Guzik)

"The fact that a leper approached Jesus was socially and theologically inappropriate because leprosy was viewed as a disease given as a judgment by God."(Utley) Therefore we can come to Jesus without fear of judgement. Why don't we?

"The term "authority" appears numerous times in the Gospel. A contrast is drawn between the recognition of Jesus' authority by the Roman centurion and the attitude of the scribes and Pharisees who challenged the authority of Christ. Jesus expressed, in miracles, the uniqueness of the God-given authority of His messianic role." (NICNT)

Obedience:

Jesus wants to touch you and make you clean. He is willing to cleanse and heal. Jesus has not changed in character since Matthew 8. We live in the Church Age. The time of the "already but not yet" Kingdom. "I am willing" should be meditated upon. While we are all going to die of something sometime Jesus heals everyone who comes to him and asks for healing. We are healed of all separation from God caused by our sinfulness and ceremonially uncleanness. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sins, and uncleanness. Ephesians 1:7 NIV  In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace. Ephesians 2:13 NIV  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

We also are to pray for the sick, we too are to make unclean holy through the blood of Christ. People are to see the answer to the question, "Lord, if you are willing?" Is ,"yes I am willing, be clean". We are to be His hands and feet. We can touch the sinner and the saint with the love of Jesus.

Repentance:

We depend upon you to help us be Your hands and feet. We have your authority. We pray in the name of Jesus. Please direct our steps and hands today. Help us to recognize the "God moments" in our day. A word, a touch, a talk, a text, a prayer walk.

I choose to come to Jesus and ask him for healing and cleansing. I recognize what Jesus does and Jesus says, in Matthew 8:3 NIV  Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. So today, I can say, "Jesus is reaching out his hand to me, he touches me and makes me clean. He makes us His hands and feet. Today I will be His hands and feet.

Prayer:

Matthew 8:2-3 NIV  A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."  (3)  Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.

Lord Jesus I think of the despised and reviled leper. His physical condition is nothing compared to the moral leprosy of the religious and self-righteous. I come to you so I can be your hands and feet.