Believing in His Power

And, behold there came a leper, and worshipped him, saying, Lord if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.  Matthew 8:2

The leper's address to Christ.  If this happened, as it is here placed, after the sermon on the mount, we may suppose that the leper, though shut out by his disease from the cities of Israel, yet got within hearing of Christ's sermon, and was encouraged by it to make his application to Him:  for He that taught as one having authority, could heal so, and therefore He came and worshipped Him, as one clothed with a divine power.  The cleansing of him may be considered:

(1) As a temporal mercy; a mercy to the body, delivering it from a disease, which, though it did not threaten life, embittered it.  And so it directs us, not only to apply ourselves to Chrsit, who has power over bodily diseases, for the cure of them, but it also teaches us in what manner to apply ourselves to Him:  with the assurance of His power, believing that He is able to cure diseases now, as He was when on earth, but with a submission to His will; Lord, if thou will, thou canst.

As to temporal mercies, we cannot be so sure of God's will to bestow them, as we may of His power, for His power in them is unlimited, but His promise of them is limited by a regard to His glory and our good.  When we cannot be sure of His will, we may be sure of His wisdom and mercy, to which we may cheerfully refer ourselves:  Thy will be done, and this makes the expectation easy, and the event, when it comes, comfortable.  (Matthew Henry)

temporal mercy--something material, secular, here on earth

I found this very interesting--but my thoughts on it are fragile so I will begin:  We are to boldly come before Christ and ask for mercies--relief of bodily sickness, pain, sickness of heart, and ect.  He is able to heal and give anything He desires to us and when we pray we are to pray already believing in His Power, that it is a done deal--IF it is His will in doing so.

We cannot always be sure of God's will and that's okay.  We can be assured that our prayers are heard and His will for us is the best way--not necessarily our way.  Key word--cheerfully--whatever our lot in life is, if it stays the same and not meant to change--we are to accept it cheerfully.  Resting in the knowledge that Christ has our back and is doing what is best for us.

Why are some people healed and others die?  Was their faith weaker?  No--it was in God's design for their life to take the path that it did.  I tell my students, "I'm going to do what's best for you" meaning everyone will not get the same treatment.  We are a corporate body in Christ--but we begin as individuals.  I am able to ask for my heart's desire to Christ; and have peace with the outcome--whatever He chooses it to be.

Snow day today--which is awesome!