Daily Verse: Mark 1:40-41

A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!"

When we are in a time of need, the Lord is filled with compassion, sympathy, and concern. The part of the text above that jumped off the page to me is the part where it says Jesus is “Filled with compassion”. He had genuine concern and sympathy for the man that was stricken with leprosy…he wasn’t just being polite or cordial in order to “maintain appearances”. He had genuine care for the man…and he shows this by taking it a step further as he actually reaches out and touches the man. Now he’s fully involved in the situation as he actually makes contact with this infected man, instead of providing healing from a “safe distance” away. I think that is how God operates in our lives today…he gets down in the trenches with us, knee deep in our struggle, and helps us find a way out. He is not a king like we see a king in this world…he is not going to reign from atop his thrown, secure from the mess and muck that his “subjects” are in. No, I believe he rolls up his sleeves and gets in the water with us. There is great peace, confidence, and maybe even joy in knowing that when we are in need, we are not alone…we do not struggle on our own. For we have a God that wants to be in the battle with us. So next time we are in need…the next time we are hopeless, beaten down, cut at the knees, may we genuinely call out to the Lord, and allow his hand to guide us out of the darkness. To God be the glory!