Step out of the Crowd
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“When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him saying, ‘Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.’”. (Mathew 8:1-2, NKJV)
In the ancient world, leprosy was a terrible, destructive disease – and it still is in some parts of the world. According to Jewish customs, one had to keep six feet from a leper. If the wind was blowing toward a person from a leper, they had to keep 150 feet away. The only thing more defiling than contact with a leper was contact with a dead body.
Jesus had just come off the mountaintop with his disciples having spent much time teaching them. Multitudes (meaning tens of thousands) began to follow Jesus, and in the midst of all this, a leper came out from the crowd and worshiped Him.
This leper was unique. In desperate need to come in contact with Jesus he somehow was able to overcome his many discouragements and reach out for the only One that could give Him any hope to a hopeless condition.
I’ve often wondered what it took for him to worship Jesus while in that condition. He hadn’t yet been healed, nor did he have a promise of healing. He worshiped in spite of his circumstances and made himself vulnerable in a crowd of people that deemed him dirty, diseased and unclean.
He was hungry for a touch from God, however, I am convinced he worshiped Jesus not because of what he could get from him, but because he recognized Jesus for who He was.
“Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean. Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, ‘I am willing; be cleansed.’ Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. (v. 2-3)
God desires to touch us and takes delight in bringing us healing. Our desperation for Him, like the leper who left the crowd, usually manifests itself through bold and extravagant action.
God always honors faith and is moved by our worship. Sometimes it takes leaving the place we have lived in for so long, and stepping out in faith no matter what others say so we can attain the promises of God on our lives.
Father, Your word says that I can approach Your throne of grace with boldness. In times when I am embarrassed to come to you or fearful to follow because others might mock me for it, remind me that your invitation to come always stands. Draw me close to You. Amen
Question: How will you worship God today?
6 Responses to “Step out of the Crowd”
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Thank you,Brigitte,when I read*God always honours our faith & is moved by our worship*..I became very emotional…it just reaffirms how much I mean to Him! WOW!
Sharon, I have just said a pray for you and your circumstances & praise God for the success of your husbands surgery.
Julie,one of the ways I`ve been dealing with professing my faith is to prepare ahead of time what I need to say.. there really isn`t a lot of different examples & of course asking God to put the words in my mouth! One of the verses I use is: May the words of my mouth & the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you,O,Lord,my rock & my redeemer.Psalm19:14..I have prayed that He will still your heart & fill your mouth with the right words at the right time…ever time you need it!God Bless you …just never give up!
Man this quite time was amazing
The writer says “Sometimes it takes leaving the place we have lived in for so long, and stepping out in faith not matter..what others say. I know first hand because it happened to me when I lost my job and moved to NJ to be with my aging parents one of whom was in a nursing home. There my faith went to work and God blessed me immensely for it. I am bold to approach God at all times and I know he right there to answer my call. Thank you God and praise you today that my husband’s surgery was success.
I would like to worship God humbly…whole heartedly…and with grateful praise! To God be the Glory all the days of my life. He is so good.
I would like to worship God today and always be remembering what he has done for me,meaning the love, grace and forgiveness he gives me daily along with the sacrifice on the Cross.
Thank you Brigette, for this timely devotional. I know I am often afraid to profess my love for God. I am afraid of being mocked. I know this doesn’t please Him. I pray for courageous and boldness to step out for God; and constantly ask Him to put the words on my lips; to be ready to defend His word. (Can’t remember what Bible verse it is that tells us to do just that; I think it’s in James). Thank you for the reminder today.