If You Want To…

Genesis 23-24:51 Matthew 8:1-17 Psalm 9:13-20 Proverbs 3:1-6

“’Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean’…’I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be clean!’” (Matthew 8:2,3 TNIV).

The boy walked up to me and mumbled something that sounded like a question. His head was hanging and he seemed to be working something on the floor with his right foot. Each time he repeated his request, he said it louder until he had his head up and was talking in a normal voice. “May I have a piece of candy?”

Sometimes it seems like we’re children asking God for something we don’t really deserve, but we want to have. The man with leprosy knew Jesus had the power to heal. The only question was did Jesus want to heal him. Perhaps it is because we know ourselves as well as we do and know we brought the infliction on ourselves. Either way, our doubt can keep us from asking.

Jesus answered the sick man with words and actions. While He may not heal us of all our physical ailments today, He is ready and waiting to heal us of our sin disease. He has said He wants to heal us, and He has shown us by dying on the cross for us. The only question now is, do we really believe him?

Lord Jesus, we want to believe in Your love for us. We want to believe You are waiting for us to ask for Your forgiveness and to heal us of the sin disease. Help us when we doubt. If You want to, You can make us well. Amen.