Man is it hard sometimes to see what’s right in front of me. I mean, I go through life looking for something and can’t seem to find it. Often the thing for which I’m searching is right in front of me just hidden a bit. Usually it’s because I’m looking for a version of it that’s in my head that isn’t the real thing.
There’s a story in the bible that really speaks to this problem. In Luke 17, we read of ten men who had a skin disease. This wasn’t a rash or a few pimples, but it was a horrific and painful disease for which there really was no cure. If you had this disease called leprosy you were outcasts, not allowed back into the community. You had to live alone and warn everyone who came near you that you were unclean. Humiliating to say the least!
Well, one day these ten men who were living in their exiled community were approached by Jesus. Now they knew there was something special about him. They just didn’t quite get the whole picture. They were looking for a healer. They wanted someone who could say a word and they would be healed. They wanted to hear a healthy prognosis for their ailment so they could be welcomed back home.
They probably missed their families. They had no friends left. They probably even wanted to go back to work. Anything would be better than this alone life that they had been living. They needed healing.
So when they saw Jesus and noticed that he was a rabbi (teacher) they asked him to heal them. They had likely heard of the things Jesus had done. Perhaps Jesus’ reputation of healing had preceded him. At any rate, they saw Jesus and thought we need what you have to offer – healing! They were so focused on the healing they wanted that they totally missed the bigger picture. What they really needed was a Savior and they missed it. He was totally out of focus to them because he wasn’t what they thought they needed.
How often is that the case in our daily lives as Christians today? How often do we beg God for something that really isn’t our biggest need? How often do we overlook the power of God’s love and forgiveness because we need something more? What will it take for us to see the thing we really need is the thing that Jesus already gave us?
I received a message recently from someone who saw this reality in their personal story. The lightbulb went on! Salvation is what I’ve always needed. It’s what I’ve always had but I wanted more. I wanted something I thought I deserved. I think I take my salvation for granted because my focus is on the other things that pale in comparison to the vast power of God’s love and forgiveness.
I believe, if we are truly honest, we all can admit this same thought. We don’t worry about our sins because Jesus died for them. We don’t give much thought to his death and resurrection and how they impact our life today because that’s for when I die. But what if God wanted Jesus’ life, death and resurrection to be more than something for when we die? What if the reality of forgiveness was meant for today?
Remember those ten guys Jesus healed? Well only one of them came back for thanks. Only one of them realized that Jesus was the healer but also the Savior. Step back for a minute and see where the Jesus the Savior has already given you everything you need. Change your point of view for just a second so that you can realize your biggest need has already been met.
Leave a Reply