Focus: Do You Believe?

Text: Mt.8:2

"And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou WILT, thou CANST make me clean."

A leper comes to Jesus. Think about it for a moment. This leper knows what the law says, yet he comes to Jesus Christ. As a leper, he is prohibited from coming close to other individuals. For as long as he is a leper, he remains a social and religious outcast. Once his leprosy has been found out, the priest declares him ceremonially unclean. He is meant to live in the colony of lepers, away from where normal people live. He cannot come close to others, not to talk of touching them. The distance he is to stay from people is not less than 100 yards. 

But here in this text, this nameless leper breaks all protocols, and comes to Jesus Christ, who is every man's man - every woman's man, and every child's man. This nameless leper could not make such a move if he was not desperate for a miracle and deliberate in his action. I believe that his move was influenced by his faith in the person of Christ and His ability to heal. He must have seen some healed individuals or heard testimonies about several healings performed by Christ.

He comes and worships the Lord Jesus Christ. He acknowledges the Lordship of Christ (the Greek word is kurios), and honors Him as such. Then he says to the Lord, "If you WILL, you CAN make me clean." He believes in the power of Christ to heal him. He is not in doubt of what Christ can do. He is confident that Christ is able to make him every whit whole.

This leper has only one problem, and that problem is not being sure of Christ's willingness to heal him. He says to the Lord, "If you will…" He is not sure of Christ's willingness to cure him of his leprosy. He is sure of Christ's ability, but not sure of His willingness to help him out.

Matthew reports that "Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I WILL; be thou clean. And IMMEDIATELY his leprosy was cleansed" (Mt.8:3). Christ calmly and firmly assures him of His willingness to miraculously cleanse him. The leper came near by faith, and Christ touched him by love. This is indeed a step of faith by the leper and the touch of love by Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ showed by His action that He was not only able but also willing to cure the leper. By a word of power and authority He commanded him to be cleansed, and instantly he was cured.

Are you having the same issue as the leper? You believe that Christ has power to heal, but you are not sure if he has the intense desire or willingness to heal. A lot of us, after professing faith, conclude by saying, 'If it is His will.' A lot of us find it hard to believe that God wants us healed, delivered, or prosperous. You believe that God is powerful, but lack the same belief in the willingness of God to rescue you from danger or trouble. Let me ask you, do you believe in God's ability to take care of the impossible in your life? Do you also believe in God's willingness to seeing you delivered and blessed?

I assure you that the God you serve is capable, reliable and willing. It is His intention to make you free from every form of bondage. He longs for you to be made whole. He is interested in your welfare and wellbeing.

Matthew tells us the story of two blind men who also came to Christ for help. He says, "And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I AM ABLE to do this? They said unto him, YEA, LORD" (Mt.9:28). Do you have faith in the ability of God to do impossible things? These two blind men said a big yes to the power of Christ. In essence, they responded, 'Yes, Lord! You are able.' 

From today, let your response to God be, 'Yes, Lord!' Do you believe I can deal with your issues and save you from your troubles? Let your response be, 'Yes, Lord!' Here's Paul's powerful declaration and doxology, "Now unto him that is ABLE to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us" (Eph.3:20). Your God is able and willing to restore your vision, your mobility, your health, your joy, your hope, and your peace.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter