September 24 – Be Cleansed—But Don’t Tell

And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away, and He said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas; and they were coming to Him from everywhere. - Mark 1:40-45 NASB

Be cleansed—but don’t tell anyone. Don’t tell! How could this leper keep this healing to himself?  He had spent years staying away from the public—living an “unclean” existence that some equated with sin. Now he was a free man. Free from disease—free from sin. And Jesus was the reason—the great physician. Give Him the glory and praise. How could he not tell everyone he met? Everyone had known that he had been a leper. Leprosy wasn’t something from which people were normally healed. People had to know—they had to be told. That very action drove Jesus to staying away from populated areas, and yet people kept on coming to Him. He was a healing magnet. People were seeking physical healing—heal me—that will make everything better.

Is that what we want when we go to Jesus in prayer now? Heal me—that will make everything better. Heal my mother, my sister, my daughter, my friend—heal me. Give health, healing, a job, a home, a baby, a safe trip. Like those people in Bible times we are self-centered. Give me....We want our needs fulfilled. We may think that when we ask for prayers for others that we are being compassionate—but is that really what Jesus wants? Think about it. He wants us to share Him with others, so He answers our prayers, just like the leper. Then, unlike the leper, He wants us to tell others what He has done for us.

·         What has God been doing in your life this week? 
·         How do you see Him working?
Share those answers with someone…with anyone.
By telling others what God is doing in YOUR life, you are sharing good news!

Dear Jesus, Thank you for healing that leper—and for working in our lives.

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.