TGN: Compassion & Willingness

Prayer: LORD, some of Your people are suffering great pain and distress at this very moment. We can each understand that deep injury, that makes us weak, helpless and paralyzes us from living life. We in no way question the justice that You bring about in these situations; but it's time to pray about it. I pray that we each learn how to celebrate Your faithfulness and unfailing love in the midst of the devastation. As we read Your Word today, highlight what Jesus suffered to pay the penalty for our sins and lead us into rejoicing in the incredible love of the Almighty God who offers us salvation. Thank You Jesus. Amen.
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JESUS' MINISTRY IN GALILEE

Mark 1 v. 40-39 (NLT)

Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy

40 A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. "If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean," he said.
41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. "I am willing," he said. "Be healed!" 42 Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. 43 Then Jesus sent him on his way with a stern warning: 44 "Don't tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed."

45 But the man went and spread the word, proclaiming to everyone what had happened. As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus, and he couldn't publicly enter a town anywhere. He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to him.

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In keeping with the law in Leviticus 13 and 14, Jewish leaders declared people with leprosy unclean. This meant that lepers were unfit to participate in any religious or social activity. Because the law said that contact with any unclean person made a person unclean, too, some people even threw rocks at lepers to keep them at a safe distance. Even the mention of the name of this disabling disease terrified people. Although leprosy was incurable, many different types of skin diseases were classified together as "leprosy."

Jesus was "filled with compassion" and "willing" to touch this "unclean" man and heal him of his disease. Jesus knew the real value of this man. The real value of a person is inside, not outside. Although a person's body may be diseased or deformed; or their mind may be filled with hypocrisy and sin, the person God created is no less valuable to Him. No person is too disgusting for God's touch. We have no right to give up on anyone. In a sense, we are all people with leprosy because we have all been deformed by the ugliness of sin. By sending His Son, Jesus, God has touched us "willingly" and filled with compassion has given us the opportunity to be healed. When you feel repulsed by someone- either the way they look, how they act/conduct themselves, the traditions they are faithful to, how they live their lives-STOP and remember how God feels about that person- and about you. STOP and ask God how He would like to use you to show His compassion to a person who needs His healing in their life.

According to the Old Testament laws about leprosy, when a leper was cured, he or she had to go to a priest to be examined. Then the leper was to give a thank offering at the Temple. Jesus adhered to these laws by sending the man to the priest, demonstrating Jesus' complete regard for God's law. Sending a healed leper to a priest was also a way to verify Jesus' great miracle to the community.

- YOUR WIILINGNESS TO LOOK PAST WHAT YOU SEE, AND LET GOD WORK THROUGH YOU WILL VERIFY A LIVING JESUS TO YOUR COMMUNITY.

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Prayer: LORD, use me! Use me to spread the healing that You have poured into my life, to all of these people that you have brought and will continue to bring in my life. They are here for You not me. You have a blessing for their lives LORD. I refuse to stand in the way of their miracle. So LORD, I ask You- willingly to USE ME to show Your compassion and unfailing love to Your children. Your Will and Your way. In Jesus' name. Amen --------------------------------------------------------------

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16,17

Resources: biblegateway.com, NIV Women's Devotional Bible- Classic Edition, and Life Application Study Bible.

www.thegoodnews4yourlife.blogspot.com "Providing you with what you already have access to in the most convenient way. So that we all can continue to grow in wisdom & understanding of God." LT