Today's reading

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. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. –Matthew 8:1-3 NIV

February 29, 2024

He’s Willing

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. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. –Matthew 8:1-3 NIV

In Matthew, we read the story of a man who came to Jesus for healing. He was a leper, and he was forbidden to be close to other people. He was to cry out, “Unclean, unclean” anytime he approached others. Imagine how isolated and lonely he must have felt. It took a lot of courage for him to approach Jesus. It required even more courage to request healing. He didn’t doubt Jesus could heal him; he had surely heard the stories about the miracles Jesus had already performed. If anyone needed a miracle, he did. The only doubt he had was whether Jesus was willing to heal him or not. “After all,” he must have reasoned, “I’m just a leper.” When he approached Jesus, he knelt before Him and acknowledged Jesus as Lord. He then made his petition, not doubting Jesus’ ability to heal, but His willingness. Jesus immediately answered, “I am willing.” Don’t we do the same thing today? We don’t doubt God’s healing power, but we wonder if He’s willing to heal us. We think we are insignificant. But Jesus didn't hesitate to express His willingness to the leper, and He is equally willing to heal us today.

prayer focuses

Father, forgive me for doubting Your willingness to heal me. Just as the leper, I come to You humbly asking for Your divine touch. I know that You are able.

All things are possible for those who are in Christ Jesus. With You, Father, nothing is impossible. I praise You, Lord!

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about the

Author

Brenda Beattie

Brenda Beattie is a retired letter carrier and an active Chaplain for the USPS. She and her husband retired to Bradenton because they loved their church, Bayside Community Church. She has self-published two books, "Finding Sacred Ground In The Daily Grind," and "The Case Of The Missing Letter." She is also a repeat author for "Chicken Soup For The Soul." Her articles appear monthly in the "Mountaineer," a postal publication. Her hearts desire is to encourage and to give hope.