Today's Passage - Luke 5:12-16

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english Luke 5:12-16   "While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, '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!' And immediately the leprosy left him. Then Jesus ordered him, 'Don't tell anyone...' Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."   The Lord wants to heal us! Reading through Gospel of Luke, you will see that the Lord is filled with mercy, for He continuously served those who had needs. In this passage, a leper came to Jesus, but he wasn't' sure whether Lord was willing to heal him. Isn't this our problem as well? Psalm 103:3 says that the Lord is the one who "forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases..." You might say amen to the first part, but when you hear "heals all yours diseases," you might think "Really? How's that possible?"   We often only believe half of God's promises, so we can't experience God's grace. The response from the Lord revealed that He is loving and merciful. He was willing to touch the sick, and also say to him "I am willing" and "be clean!" The leper must have been surprised by then, because Jesus was actually willing to heal him! His heart must have been filled with gratitude and shock! Back in those days, no one was willing to care for the needs of a leper, yet Jesus was willing to reach out to him and to heal him. No matter what kind of disease or weakness is in your body right now, would you like to believe that God is willing to heal you? You need to look upon the Lord! He is the same yesterday, today and forever, and His faithfulness, grace and mercy will never change. Not only did He heal the lepers in the past, He is willing to heal you today; do not have any doubt, simply trust Him!   After Jesus healed the leper, He told him "don't tell anyone." The reason is not so that he won't testify for the healing, but because it wasn't the Lord's time yet. Promoting it too early would only interrupt His ministry, and that's why when lots of people came looking for Him, He withdrew to the wilderness. Very often, people came to the Lord just to look for healing, or to catch His blunder, but not really wanting to seek the Lord. What is your intention? Lord loves to heal those who seek Him, but are you sincerely depending on Him, believing that He is not just the Lord who heals but also Lord of your life? Let us open our hearts to Him, and let His grace flow through our body today!   Pray with Pastor Tong           Lord, I thank you because not only are you the Lord that saves lives, you are also the Lord who loves to heal. May your healing grace come upon all the brothers and sisters; when we cry out to you today, may you have mercy on us and tell us "I am willing, be clean!" I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!