Topic: The Compassionate Touch [DCLM Daily Manna 23 January 2019 Daily Devotional]
Text: Luke 5:12-16 (KJV)
Key Verse: “And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean” (Luke 5:12,13a).
MESSAGE:
A local pastor witnessed to a palm-wine tapper for years to no avail. He would not receive the gospel nor come to church, no, not even on the Lord’s day. The gain from his infamous trade he esteemed more highly than the souls of many promising young men who are now turned to drunkards in the small village. He fell off a tall palm-tree as he went up to collect the product one Sunday morning. He came down with injury to his spine. The doctors pronounced his case to be hopeless. In hospital, he sent for the village pastor whose preaching he had spurned these many years. The pastor arrived immediately, prayed for him and rally church members round him in an intense prayer meeting for his recovery. Three days later, doctors said he got better. About six weeks later, he was ready to go home. Christ had touched his soul and healed his pain not minding his shameful past.
The leper in our text must have heard of the ministry of Jesus. Although he knew He had power to heal him, he was not sure Jesus would be willing to touch him, probably because of his putrefying sores. He was ignorant of the intense love, mercy and compassion sore. He was ignorant of the intense love, mercy and compassion of our Lord. Being humbled by his hopeless situation, he cried out to Jesus for help: “Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.”
The response from Jesus is ever so reassuring. That is Christ’s same answer to us whenever we turn to Him for help in our distressed, helpless state. He will never turn away those who penitently come to Him. Jesus is a compassionate Saviour. If you are suffering, remember that He feels your pain with you. Your sin is more destructive and debasing than leprosy but He is willing to touch you. Humble yourself and confess your sins to the Lord. Sincerely ask Him to cleanse you from your defilement and heal your soul today.
Thought For The Day: Ask what He wills for your life and stick by it.
Bible Reading In One Year: Exodus 23-25
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
