Lepers who worshipped got more than Pharisees who didn’t
God has a soft spot in His heart for lepers in the Bible, have you ever noticed that? Over and over lepers are running to Jesus and worshipping Him and being healed, and then running out and telling everyone (even though He tells them not to!).Β Did you ever wonder why that is? Why lepers? It’s because the desperation of having no hope, no other place to turn and recognizing the need for Jesus drives people, from that deep inner place, to forsake the crowds, run to Jesus and worship Him. That sort of crazy behavior grab’s God’s attention!
Those who know they have need of Him and are willing to worship Him, no matter what their condition, are the ones the Lord is seeking to spend His time with. Those are the ones He can heal, deliver, touch, revive, awaken, restore, and put back together.
On the other hand, the Pharisees were busy observing, watching, judging and not worshipping. In fact, Jesus said He had specifically come to find the “sick”, and wasn’t interested in the “righteous”. (Read Mark 2:15-17) Even though the Pharisees believed in God, their righteousness was in their ability to follow the laws and rules, while their hearts were where the filth was hidden. They had become snared by their routines and traditions, while the sick and untouchables whose uncleanness was visible and humiliating and gross were throwing themselves at His feet. See? Worship brings you closer to God. Those who know they have need of Him and are willing to worship Him, no matter what their condition, are the ones the Lord is seeking to spend His time with. Those are the ones He can heal, deliver, touch, revive, awaken, restore, and put back together.
Worship isn’t about you. It’s not about your needs. Worship is about ministering to the Lord. However. When you are in worship, ministering to the Lord, you are opening the heavens in a spiritual place, where the Lord can more freely minister to you in return. He does that because He is faithful. He doesn’t need your worship to validate His position as God. He wants your worship because it draws you closer to Him and He loves you. He wants you close to Him so He can reach out and touch you. The thing about lepers is this: They knew their need, and they were willing to throw themselves at His feet and worship. The rest? Miraculous. What a good God!
Thought for today
Jesus is not offput by the “yuck”. He’s not repelled by what you have done. He died for all of that! He wants to be close to you! So often people think they have to be a certain way before they can approach the Lord, but the grace of God, granted through His Son, Jesus means you get to run to Him and worship (Read Hebrews 4:16). Worship is exclusively God-centered. Don’t let the enemy tell you you’re not qualified to enter into worship! That is where you’ll minister to the Lord and where He will minister to you in return. Satan does not want that, in case you were wondering! “God catches His fish before He cleans them,” as the old saying goes. If you’re a Christian who is struggling with a sin issue, or carnal behaviors or even inner darkness, don’t fall into the trap of traditional thinking and keep that from Jesus – no! Break away, run to His feet and worship. Minister to Him. NEVER FORGET THIS:Β God can’t work with a Pharisee who stands apart, but He will absolutely reach out and touch a leper at His feet.Β
