The Terrible, So Good, Blessed Day

Thistlebend Quiet eMoment

by Laurie Aker

Focus Scripture: Luke 5:12-16 ESV

12 While he was in one of the cities,  
there came a man full of leprosy.
And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him,  
“Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”  
13 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him,  
saying, “I will; be clean.” 
And immediately the leprosy left him. 
14 And he charged him to tell no one,  
but “go and show yourself to the priest,
and make an offering for your cleansing,  
as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”
15 But now even more the report about him went abroad,
and great crowds gathered to hear him  
and to be healed of their infirmities.
16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.
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Do you ever feel like you are covered with leprosy,
inside and out?

Has the Lord ever tapped you on the shoulder,
opened your eyes, spoken to you during your prayer time,
and revealed your sin to you as never before?

He is so gentle.
He is so loving.
He is so pure and holy.
The more light He sheds, the more you see your sin.

You don’t want to be sinful.

You don’t want to fear, but you do.
You don’t want to worry, but you do.
You don’t want to care what other people think of you.
You don’t want to crave that next candy bar, diet soda, or whatever.
You don’t want to fly off the handle, harbor a grudge,
“adjust” the truth, or hide your true self.
You don’t want to feel inferior, self-conscious, or inadequate,
but you find yourself spiraling downward,
beating yourself up, and wanting to give up.

However, when God opens your eyes to your sin and you see your sin
more as He sees it, even though it may feel just like
The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,
it is actually
The Very Awful, Terrible, So Good, Very Blessed Day!

TAKING GOD’S WORD TO HEART

Jesus is our Shepherd.
He has purpose in everything He allows, even your sin!
He is forming and shaping us into vessels of God’s glory.

The leper, full of leprosy,
came to Jesus and fell down on his face in front of Jesus,
and begged Jesus to make him clean.
What did Jesus do?
Did He shun him?
Did He sort of heal him?
Did He say to the leper, “Sorry your condition
is too repulsive, too extensive, and too severe?”

Do you need to see your sin as Jesus sees your sin?
Have you already (to some extent)?
Either way, fall on your face and beg him,
“Lord, if you will, you can make me clean!”

When the man cried out to Jesus, what did Jesus do?

Luke 5:13
And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him,  
saying, “I will; be clean.”
 And immediately the leprosy left him. 

1 John 1:9 
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just  
to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Nothing but the blood of Jesus can wash away our sin.
But it can.

All of it.

MEDITATE or MEMORIZE

Write out the following passage from Luke 5 and recite it 3 times.
Take it with you throughout the day.

12 While he was in one of the cities,  
there came a man full of leprosy.
And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him,  
“Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”  
13 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him,  
saying, “I will; be clean.” 
And immediately the leprosy left him. 

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, please show me my sin as you see it.
Cleanse me from the leprosy of my iniquity.

In His hands for His glory,Laurie
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