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“Christ's Love Enters All Now! (C.L.E.A.N)”

Ramesh C. Reddy
Publisher

Editors Note: This devotional was originally sent through email on Thursday, October 31, 1998 at 12:45:34 p.m. to InterVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF) students and others who wanted to receive daily devotionals at the University of Pittsburgh while I was serving at IVCF! It is being republished on Pittsburgh Standard today.

SCRIPTURE:

"A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, 'If you are willing, you can make me clean.' Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. 'I am willing,' he said. 'Be clean!' Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured" (Mark 1:41-42)

This man had leprosy. Leprosy made someone an untouchable and an outcast from society. This man could have been ridiculed and shunned all the days he had leprosy. He could have lost hope because of his bad experiences he may have had. More than likely he would have had such a terrible time because his disease was contagious and also people feared coming near anyone with leprosy as they feared getting it.

He could have easily been conditioned to accept his defeat in life but he did not. One day he found out about someone who was so loving and even did miracles. He took an active step hoping to receive help even with all the fears he may have stored up inside.

There are 2 things he did:

            1. He came to Jesus with the disease that made him feel like an outcast. (Skin falling off and blisters everywhere)

                        2. He fell on his knees and begged Jesus. We can infer he was not sure if Jesus was going to have anything to do with him especially from the bad experiences he may have had. Yet he takes the daring step and says, "If you are willing, you can make me clean"

Let's see Jesus' reaction and actions towards the leper.

                        1. Jesus was filled with compassion.
                        2. Jesus reached out his hand.
                        3. Jesus touched the man.
                        4. Jesus said, "I am willing"
                        5. Jesus said, "Be clean"

Immediately, the leprosy left him and he was cured!!! Praise God! Amen!

The man with leprosy did not let his past come in the way of receiving healing in the present. It could have been easy for the man to have dwelled in the past and allowed his negative experiences and thinking to rule his life and given up. He did not but decided to take a risk and it paid off.

Each of you have a past. You know the skeletons from your past. You know the deep hurts and scars that are hidden deep inside. You know the times of rejection, ridicule, etc you may have faced. Many of you may still be carrying them with you as heavy baggage. It will not go away on its own but you can definitely find healing from your past and be set free once you start dealing with what happened and not hesitate to receive the help needed. Jesus wants you to come to Him and He will not turn you away.

The man with leprosy was determined to receive help and did not let his past stop him nor 'what other people might think of him' and received healing. You do not have to let your past stop you from receiving the help the Lord wants to give you right now!   

It won't be easy and there could be a lot of inner turmoil and pain but when you pour out your heart to the Lord showing him everything that has caused the wounds and scars you are dealing with and ask Jesus to make you clean as the leper showed himself to Jesus and asked Jesus to make him clean and was healed, so will you in God's perfect timing.

When you pray to the Lord, listen to what He has to tell you. Jesus reached out to the man, touched him and spoke to him being willing to make him clean. Jesus wants to reach out to you and touch you in every area of your life.  Whether you have experienced any kind of abuse, a relational break-up, a family-dysfunction, guilt over sins of the past, etc, Jesus is willing to reach out to you with His Loving Hands, touch you with his healing love. Take the help he is offering you. He loves you so much. Each of you know what the Lord may want you to do to deal with what you are facing. Don't let your past or what other people will think about you stop you from receiving healing.

Just because you may have had bad experiences in the past and they hurt you so badly, don't let that govern your present and future. One example is relationships. If you have ever experienced a bad-break up, it would be so easy to just give up and not be in a relationship with anyone else fearing you may get hurt all over again. But don't let the other person who broke up with you have a hold on your life preventing you from enjoying life again. Depend on the Lord to send that right person your way. I know He will because He created you, you are special in His sight, and He knows that special one out there for you who you can spend the rest of your life with.

Take the step whatever you are facing with and bring it to the Lord as the man with leprosy did and you will find healing in Jesus' Name! His love can enter everyone now and make them clean.

"Christ's Love Enters All Now!" (C.L.E.A.N)/"What past do you need to be C.L.E.A.N from?"

Prayer:  Dear Jesus, you remember everything. You remember the time the man with leprosy came to you and begged you to make him clean. You were filled with so much compassion and you reached out your hand and touched the man who was seen as diseased and you were willing to make him clean and healed him. Thank you so much Jesus. Thank you so much for your love. Lord, you know the wounds and scars each of us face from our past or even the present. You know Lord what it has done to us on the inside. Lord when the pain is too much it is so easy to try to forget it by focusing our minds on other things so we do not have to deal with it. That won't help us in the long run. But, I know Lord you can heal each person who is faced with hurts when they come to you. Please Jesus reach out to the one who is hurting and touch them with your love and power. Provide them the means to get the healing you want for their lives. Thank you Jesus so much. Please Lord help them not to let their past influence them from getting the help they need. You know how they can receive that help. Please make it clear to them. Thank you so much Jesus.  Help us Oh God of our Salvation for the glory of your name. Please deliver us and provide us healing for your name's sake. Thank you so much Jesus. Thank you that you not only hear us but answer us! Amen! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!  

May the Lord Jesus guide you in His love leading you! Amen!

No matter what you feel in your heart, know that Jesus has come in and resides with you! You are not alone! To make your walk strong with the Lord, spend time in prayer talking to Him as you would to a friend. You don’t need special words to talk to the Lord. Spend time in His Word reading Psalms and turning them into prayer. Next allow God to heal you and speak to you through the Gospel of John or Gospel of Mark before moving on to other Books of the Bible! Slowly, let the Lord show you to which Scriptures He wants you to go to next. It is also important to be part of a body of believers to help you grow in the faith. Find a Bible believing church that preaches the Word of God from Genesis to Revelation proclaiming Jesus Christ our crucified and risen Lord who brings us hope, healing, and help by His grace alone!

Feel free to email me at reddy4hisglory2004@yahoo.com if you want to meet to study the Bible, pray with, talk about Spiritual issues or whatever is on your mind! My number is 412-641-9426

"This is my work and I can do it only because Christ's mighty energy is at work within me." (Colossians 1:29, TLB)

Express Your View

2013 DEVOTIONALS:

Proverbs 29:25: "Where will you take a S.T.A.N.D without wavering?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 30, 2013, 07:43 a.m)

Matthew 18:21-22:"Why F.O.R.G.I.V.E when it will happen again?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 29 2013, 09:35 a.m)

Psalm 27:14:"How do you C.O.P.E with your hurt?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 27, 2013, 11:13 a.m)

John 12:24:"Who do you remember physically and spiritually on this M.E.M.O.R.I.A.L day?" By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 27, 2013, 11:13 a.m)

"What has the law P.E.R.M.I.T.T.E.D you to do but it goes against the Lord?"  By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 09, 2013, 6:57 a.m)

"Who do you become an A.T.T.R.A.C.T.I.O.N to and why?"  By Ramesh C. Reddy (May 08, 2013, 6:58 a.m)

"What has A.N.G.E.R done to your relationships?"  By Ramesh C. Reddy (April 29, 13, 1:28 p.m.)

"How can the L.I.G.H.T impact your life?"  By Ramesh C. Reddy (April 06, 13, 11:48 a.m.)