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Day 13 Luke 5:12-16 Luke 5:12 And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou can make me clean. 13 And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him. 14 And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. 15 But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. 16 And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed. How often do you want to do something, but you hesitate to do it because you believe you will be rejected by the person or people you want to approach? Rejection is powerful, and stops us in our tracks if we let it. The leper didn’t allow rejection to stop him from approaching Jesus, yet when he did, he still showed that though he wanted healing, he didn’t expect Jesus would grant his request. Imagine his jubilation when Jesus stretched out his hand and healed him. Jesus told him to go to the priests and not tell anyone else what was done to him. However, Jesus healed him, and he told everyone what happened, and greater crowds surrounded Jesus because of his testimony. As Christians, you too have some hesitancy about what you want to do for God’s kingdom. You know in your heart what you want to do. You know God has called you for certain work, but you hesitate, fearful nothing will come of it. There’s the saying, God doesn’t call the equipped, he equips the called. So, if you feel you don’t have what it takes to do what God called you to do, remember Moses. God called him to lead his people out of Egypt, and Moses started giving him excuses why he wasn’t the right person for the job. God simply asked him what was in his hand. All Moses had was a staff, and God used that staff to do mighty things to get his people out of Egypt. What’s in your hand? What are you able to do and do well? Do you have organizational talents? Are you able to lead, teach, administer? If the only thing you know how to do well, is pray, you are still one of the mightiest people in the kingdom of God because prayer touches God’s heart and moves him to action. Paul exhorted the people to do what came naturally to them because they were all part of the body of Christ. Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teaches, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorts, on exhortation: he that gives, let him do it with simplicity; he that rules, with diligence; he that shows mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lies in you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says the Lord. 20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good. Jesus healed the leper because it was in his power to do so, and he wanted to do it. When the leper came to him, he said, if you want to, you can heal me, and Jesus told him he wanted to, and then healed him. You have the same power in you, Jesus had. Luke 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. (KJV) Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (KJV) What is holding you back from being and doing all God called you to do? God already equipped you. Go and be what God called you to be and do. Let’s pray: Father, thank you for equipping me for the work you have for me. Help me to walk in your calling without hesitation. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 4 September 2018 by Valerie Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay