Matthew 8:3 “And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, ‘I will; be clean.’ And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” I feel like that is pretty profound. The leper was immediately cleansed because it was the will of God. This man encountered the living God in human form. Let me explain more why this is profound for me today in the hope that it will encourage you as well:
My husband, Chris, and I have just made a significant move to Louisville, KY in the past 2 weeks. Through a series of events with which I won’t bore you, we had to move several months before we thought we would so that we could search for a home to buy. The market here is like a mad dash at a TJ Maxx sale bin. We truly (really truly) believe that the Lord will provide the home we need. Here’s what I have learned from this leper:
As a house comes on the market (a wonderful house, the house) I then began to think about nice things I could do for people, and then nice things that I never did for people. I do everything but lay down a prayer rug and burn incense. Do you see what’s happening here? What in the world is going on in my heart? I’ll tell you what: I am struggling with unbelief.Let me back up in that text:
Context is after the Sermon on the Mount which is concluded with Matthew’s words:
“And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority and not as their scribes.”
Matthew 7:28-29
This is the overall feel of the crowd after encountering the living God. This is the God whose Spirit I have living inside me. Also, the same God who, after the leper asked for the good gift of healing went right ahead and healed him, cleansed him the text says. The leper didn’t do anything for anyone – he actually couldn’t because he had to distance himself from others. In Matthew’s text he uses the exclamation ιδου! Behold! That’s a sit up and take notice exclamation. This leper was kicking the door down so to speak to come to the Fount of Every Blessing against cultural perameters. There is no record of ceremony or incense. There is only humility and trust.
Humility and trust.
God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble
James 4:6b
Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will act.
Psalm 37:5
Unbelief says, I am the one who needs to know and to be in control, I am the one in whom I can trust; I have committed my way to me and I know what is best. Not the leper though. He saw this Jesus in action and he came to him, humbled and committed: “Lord, if you will…” In other words, I have seen how you care for others and I know if it is your will you will cleanse me from this leprosy. But wait! There’s more: I know if it’s your will – humility and trust say: you will do what’s best for me.
Is this something I do? Of course! I ask the Lord for help and good gifts, but when I really want something do I trust that the Lord has my best interest in mind? Do I commit my way to him knowing that he will act? I am sorry to say that many times I do not.
This heart attitude is an offense to God. God opposes the proud. The proud say, “I can bring about my own destiny.” I know when I ‘commit my way to me’ I will work to create some kind of ‘karma’ situation to balance good and bad tipping the good in my favor…i.e. do nice things so I receive nice things. Psalm 139 is such a blessed psalm to recapture truth in these situations:
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them
Psalm 139:13, 16
Can you hear the foreshadowing? Saved by grace we now receive what was planned in eternity prior:
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:10
We placed an offer on a (perfect) house. We did not receive the house. Goddetermines our boundaries and our dwelling place (Acts 17:26) and we cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him by heaven (John 3:27). How can I argue with that? I argue with it because of that dangling preposition that I have written of before: I am free of sin; but not free from sin. My flesh rises up against me. Paul had this problem as well – he describes his volition which rises up from poor thinking and desiring in Romans 7.
I am truly thankful that I can focus on loving my Saviour well by striving to have my thoughts, affections and volition exercised extensively. Jesus never gives up on my sanctification – always stretching my faith. Because of his will for me to learn and grow and change in tough circumstances he designs these situations. I just love his tender and specific touch on my life. It has been a tough couple weeks, but I know this for sure:
If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have given me life.
Psalm 119:92-93