ICS Daily Devotions
Look to Jesus for Help

Matthew 8:2-3 (NKJV) And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

This leper in this passage echoes the cry or concern of many people who are faced with a chronic illness or hopeless situation, which is whether God is willing to minister to them and heal them. Jesus told the leper He was willing, and even extended His hand and touched him, although a leper was considered unclean and untouchable.

The leper wasn’t concerned about what people would think or say about him when he approached Jesus for help in a helpless situation. Similarly, neither should we let the opinion of others or our theological stand on healing hinder us when we are desperately looking to Jesus for help and healing.

God was willing to help the leper, just like He is willing to heal anyone who is sick now. In fact, Jesus did not even ask the leper to confess or repent of his sin before he healed him. Of course, He is able to heal and forgive sins at the same time, but more importantly, He loved them, for Jesus came to seek and to save the ungodly.

Psalm 103:3 (NKJV) Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases

There is a real fight in the thought life of those who are suffering from chronic illnesses. Medical reports or news on the internet and social media don’t help to develop faith or lift our spirit, and if we don’t deal with our thought life but allow ourselves to dwell constantly on all the bad consequences, then half the battle is lost! Overwhelmed by the negativity and resigned to the fact that there is no cure or hope, we will give up the will to fight! Our brain that acts as a command system will send signals to the whole body to prepare itself to shut down, affecting the immune system which is the very thing needed to fight the disease. Therefore, we should mediate on the character of God instead of worrying about something that will not provide a solution and be depressed over the situation.

Let us lift up our hope, faith and spirit by focusing on Jesus and declare His Word so that our mind will be filled with the Word. This will help us to fight and help the body to resist any virus or sickness with the immune system that God has designed for our body to fight diseases.

Sermon Series: Focus on Jesus