Friday, February 16, 2007
Mark 1:40 He saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if you are willing, You can make me clean."
IS THE LORD ABLE TO MAKE YOU CLEAN?
Leprosy was a terrible disease. As it progressed, it could cause a person to be permanently disfigured. Extremities such as fingers, toes, and noses would fall off. And as there was no known cure at the time, it was also as good as a death sentence. Such a person was forced to leave home and live in isolation outside the city limits with other lepers. "His clothes shall be torn and his head bare," God said through Moses, "and he shall cover his mustache, and cry, 'Unclean! Unclean!'" (Leviticus 13:44-45)
There was nothing that this man wanted more than to have his leprosy taken away. But while he knew what he wanted, he first put himself in the hands of his Lord: "If you are willing, you can make me clean."
We know from the Scriptures that it is always the Lord's will to give us spiritual cleaning, as David expressed it: "Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." But when it comes to requests that have to do with things of this earth, we join this leper in asking, "Lord, if you are willing."
Is the Lord able to help us in our earthly needs? Of course he is! And He does just that for this leper. He was healed. But what we ask is that the Lord would deal with us according to His good and gracious will, not ours. We all too often ask for things which are not good, for things which are selfish or greedy. And there are times when the Lord may answer a request with a "no," as with the Apostle Paul. When Paul begged that his "thorn in the flesh" be taken away, the Lord said "No -- for My strength is made perfect in weakness." So it may be for us. The Lord may choose to leave us in our difficult situation so that His glory and wisdom and grace might shine through us.
Yes, God is able to make you clean. He washes every one of your sins away. As for your earthly needs and requests, leave them in the hands of that One who has promised that "all things will work together for the good of those who love God."
