There's a story in Matthew 8:2-3 that tells us about a leper who kneels before Jesus, asking Him if He is willing to heal him:
"Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.” Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared.
Here is the question: He is willing and able, but He wants to know are we willing to reach out to Him?
What is it we want Jesus to do in our lives? Take away our sin? He is able, AND He was willing, AND He died on the cross for our sins. Are we willing to kneel before Him, like the leper did, and ask Him to wash us clean, exchanging our sin for His cleansing and forgiveness?
I'm sure wherever this leper went it was obvious to all that he was a leper. Leprosy is not something that's easily hidden. His identity was wrapped up in being a leper, yet he decided he didn't want to be a leper any longer and live under that identity. He wanted to exchange his identity for a new identity. He was willing to ask, and Jesus was willing and able to heal him.
What about us? What are the things in our lives that we don't want to hold onto anymore, that maybe might even identify us? Hurts, anger, disappointments, depression, divorce, worry, insecurity, addictions - we know what they are in our lives. Are we willing to reach out to Jesus and ask Him to heal and transform us - to make the exchange? He is willing and He is able.
What about those things we are believing for? Healing, direction, dreams, restored relationships, peace, the courage to do that thing the Lord is asking of us, we know what that is. Are we willing to reach out to Jesus, humble ourselves before Him and ask Him, to make the exchange of our will for His? He is willing and He is able.
Ephesians 3:20 tells us:
"...by His mighty power within us is able to do far more than we could ever dare to ask or even dream of - infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, or hopes." (Bold added)
Are we willing to reach out to Him today and make the exchange? He is willing and He is more than able!
