“Lord, if you are willing, You can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately, his leprosy was cleansed. (Matthew 8:2-3)
There is a devious deception that lies at the root of all of our struggles in life. It has been planted there by the Father of all lies and is cultivated and watered almost daily by him.
“God is selfish,” he whispers. “If He really loved you, He would do things differently. He may have given you some good gifts, but they are given grudgingly. He does not have your best interest at heart.” He’s used this ploy since the Garden, knowing that you will never trust nor follow the Lord if he can sell you on this foundational lie. Or, even if you do, you will do it with reservations.
He loves to take a few illustrations when God didn’t seem to come through and amplify these to magnify His lie. Satan does not, of course, understand God’s sovereignty. “God is too good to be unkind and too wise to be mistaken,” Spurgeon said. “And when we cannot trace His hand, we can always trust His heart.”
But if you watch Jesus as the New Testament unfolds, you will begin to question the Enemy’s evil propaganda. At the core of Jesus’ character, you will see an astounding quality: His willingness. In fact, you will notice that He is so willing to come to us and help us that His pursuit could be described as aggressive.
… is a leper. We have little concept of this disease that was so horribly deforming and debilitating that the people of Jesus’ day would run in disgust. (Imagine everyone running from you every time they saw you). But Matthew tells us that when such an outcast approached Jesus with a humble statement that carried two questions (“Are you willing? Will you make me clean?”), Jesus did not hesitate. His immediate response was to extend His hand and His healing. He touched the one that no one would touch.
He does this with a statement not only for the curious leper but for us: “I am willing; be cleansed.” The rest of the day that Matthew records in Chapter 8, we watch in awe as Jesus is healing everyone: a Centurion’s servant, Peter’s mother-in-law, “many who were demon-possessed.” He “healed ALL who were ill.” Not some, all. It was His main occupation on this common day.
“God is easy to live with,” Tozer said. He is not grudging in His gifts and His redemption. Look at Him from Genesis to Revelation, and you will find a pursuing God. He longs to be with us and to help and comfort, speak and guide, provide and protect.
If you walk closely with Christ, you find a legendary willingness. You will be overwhelmed by His care and humbled by His aggressive willingness towards you. He stretches out His hand to cleanse you daily, even hourly, as you approach Him.
What is it that you need today? Don’t let Satan’s lies keep you from approaching Christ. You will find Him waiting for you with a willing disposition. And as you receive from His hand, you will humbly say with King David, “What is man that you take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him?” (Psalm 8:4)
