Settle the Question Today

Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him and said, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And as soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. ---Mark 1:40-42

First let me say that in the days of Jesus, leprosy was the worst disease you could encounter. It was untreatable, fatal and it was socially disgusting. Anyone who had leprosy was cast out of their homes, communities and lost everything they had including their family. No one could physically touch them or even come within a certain distance of the leper so they never felt a touch or a hug until the day they died.

So, the leper that approached Jesus was desperate. He had lost everything near and dear to him and he knew his fate. That is why he approached Jesus, but he wasn’t sure if Jesus could even heal him. The average Christian is in the same position as this leper was—not knowing whether it is God’s will to heal or not. The believer may think, I know God is able to heal, I just don’t know whether or not it’s His will to heal me.

Although the leper had heard Jesus teach and believed what he heard, he still didn’t know for certain if he would heal him. He came to Jesus and said, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” That is where most people are today. They know He can, but will He. Knowing God is able isn’t enough; it’s just a starting point. Knowing God’s ability is about 25 percent of the answer. The other 75 percent is to know His will.

The one hindrance that stood between the leper and his miracle was revealed in his statement: “If You are willing, you can make me clean.” The same is true for people all over the world. They are trusting God for healing, but if you were to ask them if they are convinced that it is God’s will to heal them, they would probably answer, “I sure hope so.” They are operating in strong hope, but they haven’t stepped over into the realm of faith yet.

Faith always begins where the will of God is known. Reason with me. If Jesus was God wrapped in skin, then He was demonstrating the will of God. His response to the leper will be His response to anyone who needs His help. We cannot think that God will heal some people and not you.

Here is where healing begins. First of all be confident you are a child of God. You do that by accepting Jesus as His Son who gave His life for you on the cross taking upon Himself all your sins, sickness and torments; that now you have a relationship directly with the Father. Next, believe what the Bible has to say about God’s love for you and that He accepts you just the way you are. The next step is to understand and accept that God is a good God and has a perfect plan for your life of victory so you can be an ambassador for His Kingdom on this earth. If you have a sick body, mind or soul you cannot accomplish the works He has planned for you and still be a good soldier for Him. Now you step out in faith which is simply using your words declaring what He says about you.

Declaration: I am a child of God and He loves me just the way I am. Lord, forgive me where I fail you and help me become the person you meant for me to be. I know without a doubt that it is my Father’s will to heal me. No weapon formed against me will prosper and sickness is a weapon. I have confident assurance that He desires me to be healed even more than I do. Healing is mine!