Friday 30 Jun 2023

June 30: Matthew 8:1-4

Key Verse: Matthew 8:4
Then Jesus said to him, ‘See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.’

Devotion:
No matter who came to Jesus He was always willing to listen and serve, but how He served was dependant on what He could see in their hearts and what God in Heaven was telling Him. Here a man approached who had leprosy and wanted to be rid of it. The man knew in his heart that Jesus could heal him because that is what he believed in his heart. Jesus saw this love for God and opened His own heart to this man, cleansed him and sent him on his way to the priests (because they were the ones who could declare a person free from leprosy and allow them back into the fold after the appropriate sacrifice.)

This is where we see the ulterior motive Jesus had; to reach out to the priests and allow them to know He is their Messiah come to heal and forgive. The Messiah should come for all the people of Israel and not just those who would approach Him without questioning . Jesus knows what goes on in our heads and knows we have doubts; He tries to open things in our lives whereby we can have those doubts removed, as long as we listen!

Jesus’ ministry was to the people of Israel, but He chose disciples to continue His work and Apostles to go out into all the world and spread the Good News of what He had done for us all. We don’t have to wait until He returns before we can ask Him for forgiveness, or ask Him for healing and comfort, He is willing to help each and every one of us who come to Him in spirit. We can simply reach out to Him in prayers and He will show He is willing to answer those prayers!

Points to Ponder:
Are you waiting for something before you believe?

Will you believe and then wait instead?