A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “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!” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.” – Matthew 8:2-3 (NIV)

When we were serving the Lord in Nigeria, the medical personnel built a village on the clinic grounds for those infected with tuberculosis. Family caregivers lived there and provided for their daily needs, but the patients had to stay there until they were fully healed.

In Jesus’ day, the stigma of having leprosy, a terrible debilitating disease, meant being rejected by family and friends and forced to live outside their community. A person was considered by the religious leaders as ceremonially unclean. Imagine how grateful the leper in our reading was when he was healed by Jesus and welcomed back into the family. He was healed because he knew Jesus could heal him.

Since we don’t physically have Jesus present, as did this person with leprosy, we are sometimes tempted to seek medical cures without also asking the Lord, our Great Physician, for healing. God provides medical personnel, whom He has gifted to treat our diseases, for which we thank Him. We also have family and friends who become our prayer warriors asking for Jesus’ healing touch.

Our family and friends in a sense demonstrate that we all live in a village of caring fellow believers. God always heals us in His good and perfect way. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

When we face life’s struggles, be they mental, physical, or spiritual, Satan tempts us to despair. During these times, God opens an opportunity for us to testify to others that we trust in the Great Physician’s healing touch according to His will.

Prayer: Lord, may we keep our eyes focused on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith. May the Holy Spirit empower us to use every opportunity to praise your Holy Name in all circumstances. We know that because Jesus lives we, too, shall live forever.

Daily Reading: Matthew 22

– Contributed by Ronnie Merritt