Amen to Robert Hawker's article and Bro. Mike's comments. I used to wonder
why Moses law made such a big deal of leprosy and uncleanness until the
Lord opened my eyes to the spiritual connection to sin. Certainly we are
all lepers in need of cleansing and only our Lord can cure an
incurable disease!
On Wed, Mar 10, 2021 at 9:21 PM mike mcinnis <ratmotor@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Greetings sis Reis, et al;
Only a leper or a cripple or someone with some other disease will seek
a physician. THis leper sought the GREAT PHYSICIAN's aid and he received
it. No leper who ever sought healing from the MASTER's hand ever went
away unhealed, even though some were unthankful. How gracious and kind is
HE who speaks to sinners saying "come unto ME". HE is indeed willing to
heal all who come to HIM and HE is faithful to reveal their sickness who
are caused by HIS SPIRIT to flee to HIM.
Blessings, mike
On 3/10/2021 3:21 PM, Soraya Reis wrote:
*And behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou
wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus put forth his hand and touched
him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was
cleansed." Matthew 8:2,3 *
*Behold, my soul, in the instance of this leper, thine own circumstances.
What he was in body, such wert thou in soul. As his leprosy made him
loathsome and offensive before men, so thy polluted soul made thee odious
in the sight of God! He would not have sought a cure, had he not been
conscious of his need of it. Neither wouldest thou ever have looked to
Jesus, had he not convinced thee of thy helplessness and misery without
him. Moreover, he would not, though convinced how much he needed healing,
have sought that mercy from Jesus, had he not been made sensible of Jesus's
ability to the cure. Neither wouldest thou ever have come to Jesus, hadst
thou not been taught who Jesus is, and how fully competent to deliver thee.
The poor leper did not doubt whether Jesus was able: though he rather
feared that ability might not be exercised towards him. His prayer was, not
if thou art able, but, "Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean." *
*Now here, my soul, I hope, thy faith, through grace, exceeds the Jewish
leper. Surely thou both knowest Jesus's power and Jesus's disposition to
save thee. Unworthy and undeserving as thou art, yet his grace is not
restrained by thy undeservings, no more than it was first constrained by
thy merit. His love, his own love, his free love, is the sole rule of his
mercy towards his children, and not their claims, for they have none, but
in his free grace and the Father's everlasting mercy. Cherish these
thoughts, my soul, at all times, for they are most sweet and precious. But
are these all the blessed things which arise out of the view of the poor
leper's case? Oh, no; the most delightful part still remains in the
contemplation of Jesus's mercy to the poor petitioner, and the very
gracious manner the Son of God manifested in the bestowing of it. *
*He not only healed him, and did it immediately, but with that tenderness
which distinguished his character and his love to poor sinners. Jesus put
forth his hand and touched him; touched a leper! even so, precious Lord,
deal by me. Though polluted and unclean, yet condescend to put forth, thine
hand and touch me also. Put forth thy blessed Spirit. Come, Lord, and dwell
in me, abide in me, and rule and reign over me. Be thou my God, my Jesus,
my Holy One, and make me thine for ever. *
*Robert Hawker (1753-1827) *
