Lord if you are willing...

                                  Read: Luke 5:12-15 NASB

This story is an interesting one, when you look at the interaction between Jesus and the man with leprosy. The man “fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean." Luke 5:12b NASB Did you notice that the man fell on his face before Jesus? This man knew who's presence he was in and honored Jesus by subjecting himself to His authority. This man had been suffering with a terrible disease that separated him from his family, his work and the community. His disease had caused the most severe separation. He knows the only way he can be reconciled with everyone in his life is through Jesus.

And what was Jesus response to the man? And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed."Luke 5:13a NASB When Jesus did this miracle for this man He restored the man's health, family, home, his whole life by his willingness to cure the man's disease. Jesus was willing to reconcile this man with everyone and everything that he had once enjoyed. Through Jesus the man was returned to his original state and condition.

In this interaction Jesus was proving to all those that witnessed it that he had come to cure diseases and make reconciliation for humanity. When we look forward to Jesus on the cross, he was curing our soul's diseases (sin) and reconciling us with God. Through Jesus “willingness” our separation from God due to our disease (sin) we can now be made clean and returned to our original condition, a relationship with the God of the universe. In Jesus we are made whole and healthy.

But in order for this to happen, for us we have to do the same thing the man in the story did, humble ourselves before Jesus authority. We must believe in Him, and His ability to take care of our deepest need, salvation. He is willing to make us clean.

If you have come to the conclusion that you need His cleansing and are wondering what to do to make this possible. The bible has the answer for you. "Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Acts 2:38 NASB

© 2012 Leo J. Woodman

Run with endurance

 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, Hebrews 12:1 ESV

The great cloud of witnesses spoken of here in Hebrews 12:1 is all those great people of faith listed in chapter eleven. The writer of Hebrews is encouraging his readers to get rid of all the burdens that hold us down and run the race before us.

When you think about it runners have as little as possible in the way of burdens when they compete. They wear the lightest clothing and shoes they can find in order to be free to run as fast and as long as they can. When we think of marathon runners in particular, they would never make the distance if they carried too heavy a burden. They would not have the endurance to finish the race let alone win it.

The writer is wanting his readers to see that if they want to finish the race and win their crown they will need spiritual endurance. The biggest hindrance to spiritual endurance is the weight of sin. He is encouraging his readers to put away the sins in their lives that are holding them down.

We all have certain sinful behaviors that hold us back in our spiritual race. They are slowing us down and causing us to fall behind. Today wold be a good day to take inventory of what our sin burdens might be and ask forgiveness for them and strength to overcome them. Jesus is waiting at the finish line to welcome us to victory in Him.

That great cloud of witnesses that went before us kept their faith and endured lets not hold onto anything hindering us in our pursuit of the goal.

© 2012 Leo J. Woodman