DESPERATE TO LIVE

-CoNnEcT- You are getting closer to the end of the school year and you are failing at least two of your classes and in danger of getting left behind and you say “If only I would of done my homework instead of watching T.V., if only I would of listened in class instead of day dreaming about that special someone”. You search desperately for a way to bring up your grades and say, “ Maybe I can ask my teacher for a make up assignment or maybe I can double up my homework. Maybe I can clean the classroom or the bathrooms for extra credit”. You would do anything to avoid getting left behind.

-ReFlEcT- Read Matthew 8
Key Verses: 2-3

A man with leprosy came and knelt before Him and said “Lord if you are willing you can make me clean” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing” he said, “Be clean” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.

Now here is a man who has a skin disease known as leprosy. Now back then someone who had this disease would be taken out of his current home away from his family and society. He was left alone longing for his family& his home. Then, just when he thought there was nothing to be done, he hears about this man named Jesus. A man who is known to have healed many and who has the power to heal him. Desperate for healing and a chance to return to society and his family he seeks out this man named Jesus and kneels before him and says “Lord if you are willing you can make me clean” in other words there is no doubt that you can heal me and so I ask you to have mercy on me and bring healing into my life. Jesus seeing this man before him was moved and so he reached out his hand out to him and said “I am willing” and immediately the man was healed & restored.

-DiReCt- In our lives leprosy is that sin that has separated us from God. Separated us from the one person who is able to bring healing into our lives. The only one who is willing to reach out to us in our circumstance when no one else would even look at us and all he is waiting for is us to be willing to let go and let him cleanse us and restore us to himself. He is waiting for us to say just like this man with leprosy said to him “ Lord if you are willing you can make me clean” and he will be more than happy to reach out his hand and heal us.

-What area in your life are you desperate for help?
-Have you ever felt like God has helped you change, heal or become “clean” before? When?
-Why do you think so many people will not ask God to help/heal them?
-Were there any other stories or scriptures you liked/disliked or want to talk about in Chapter 8?

God, Help us to become desperate for you. Sometimes we are pushed away from our families, friends and future because we have benn labeled as “sick” and “unclean”. We find ourselves carrying a lot of guilt and shame for things, some that are not even our fault. Please heal us of our sin and remove the lonely feeling we find when we are separated from you and everyone else. Thank you for your willing ness to make us clean. Amen.