Following His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus was approached on the road by a man with leprosy. In his approach, this marginalized man made two profound assumptions. First, he believed Jesus loved him enough not to turn him away, despite the deep stigma of his disease. Second, he possessed absolute faith that Jesus had the power to heal him, if only He chose to do so.
“When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great crowds followed him, and there was a man with a skin disease who came to him and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.'” (Matthew 8:1-2)
This story mirrors the experience of a friend of mine. For many years, he was a “tough guy” deeply involved in a life of crime. He had hurt many people and carried a heavy burden of shame for his past actions. One night, shortly after accepting Jesus as his Savior, he had a vivid dream. It was as though an old movie reel was playing in his mind, showing scene after scene of the wrongs he had committed.
In this dream, he wept, begging God for mercy. Then, Jesus appeared to him—wearing a traditional robe and beard, exactly as we so often picture Him. Jesus simply put His arm around my friend and said, “I forgive you.”
“He stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing. Be made clean!’ Immediately his skin disease was cleansed. Then Jesus said to him, ‘See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.'” (Matthew 8:3-4)
In my 50 years as a pastor, one of my greatest joys has been witnessing people seek—and find—this kind of profound forgiveness. Just as Jesus instantly healed the leper and brought him back to a place of physical wholeness, He forgives the spiritual outcasts of today and restores their souls.
When Jesus healed the leper, He also enabled the man to reintegrate into society. Jesus continues to do this for outcasts today. Not only are they welcomed back into the fold of their communities, but they often rise to become powerful, compassionate leaders within the church.
The First Steps
When I was younger, I used to run. In the running community, there is a common saying: the hardest step is the first one out the door.
My friend, along with so many others, took that difficult first step by asking Jesus for forgiveness and restoration. But once you step out that door, there is still a race to be run.
This man, a former criminal, grew to become one of the strongest leaders in our congregation. I will never forget one Easter Sunday when his Sunday school class met in the church gym. When we formed a circle to pray, his class filled the entire room—there must have been at least a hundred people. The remarkable things he accomplished were a direct result of the daily habits that made him a Spirit-inspired leader:
(1) Morning Devotion: Every morning, he spent an hour reading the Bible and praying.
(2) Evening Reflection: At night, as he drifted off to sleep, his wife would read the Bible aloud to him.
A Relationship, Not Just a Duty
When God calls us to serve and live with Him, He isn’t looking for employees to simply complete tasks. He is our Heavenly Father and our closest friend. We run the race of the Christian life because God deeply loves His children.
He wants to meet with us, commune with us, and connect with us through prayer. He desires a genuine, intimate relationship. If God only wanted tasks accomplished, He could simply speak them into existence. Instead, He chooses to involve His friends in His redemptive work.
The Bible tells us that the leper was healed in an instant. My friend—and countless others around the world—experienced an instant, miraculous change the moment they invited God into their lives.
But for both the leper and my friend, that instant transformation was only the beginning. From there, they had to learn how to walk forward as restored people of God.
Today, we can praise God for His wonderful work and His enduring love for us. He desires to change us, transform us, and walk beside us as our Heavenly Father.
Join the Discussion on YouTube
Today on YouTube, Rudy Ross, Bruce Kirby, and I discuss this great story of God’s grace.
Real Voices 