Day 50 - Modern Day Leprosy

Today's Reading: Lev. 13-14 and Acts 8

Today's reading in Leviticus had much to say about the disease of leprosy and how to deal with lepers. There was even a plan given by God for cleaning leprous houses and garments. (I had forgotten about these details.)

As I was reading this morning, I began thinking about modern day leprosy, the leprosy of sin, the leprosy of a selfish heart, the leprosy of greed, the leprosy of bad attitudes and negativity, the leprosy of pride. Without the cleansing blood of Christ, without His renewing us from the inside out, these diseases spread even worse than physical leprosy.

Let me share several quotes that have come back to mind with today's thoughts.

"The leprosy of selfishness has taken hold of the Church. The Lord Jesus Christ will heal the Church of this terrible disease if she will be healed. The remedy is found in the fifty-eighth chapter of Isaiah." Review and Herald, December 10, 1901, par. 5

Speaking of when Miriam - Moses sister came down with leprosy...

"He to whom the hearts of all men are as an open book, read the hidden motives. He saw that the heart was leprous with sin, and he caused the plague of the heart to be revealed in the dreadful judgment of physical leprosy. As leprosy was sure death if permitted to take its natural course, so the leprosy of sin would destroy the soul unless the sinner received the healing of the grace of God." Signs of the Times, March 14, 1892, par. 8}

The healing lepers received by Jesus in Bible times is the same healing we need today...

"In laying His hand upon the leper, Jesus received no defilement. His touch imparted life-giving power. The leprosy was cleansed. Thus it is with the leprosy of sin,—deep-rooted, deadly, and impossible to be cleansed by human power. “The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faint. From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores.” Isaiah 1:5, 6. But Jesus, coming to dwell in humanity, receives no pollution. His presence has healing virtue for the sinner. Whoever will fall at His feet, saying in faith, “Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean,” shall hear the answer, “I will; be thou made clean.” Matthew 8:2-3 Desire of Ages, p. 266.1 

There is power in the Word of God.... It is here that we find the remedy for the leprosy of sin!

"The word of God may be compared to a treasure-house, and the more we search it, the more we find its hidden riches. Here we may behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world. It is in the word of God that we find encouragement to turn our eyes to Christ, to lift up our voice in hope and expectation, saying, “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” It is in the word of God that we find what is the effectual remedy for the leprosy of sin. Here it is that we see the ransom that has been provided, hear the gracious invitation, and look upon the mercy of God, that has no parallel, toward those who are rebels and enemies." Signs of the Times, July 2, 1896, par. 4

All we need to do is go to Jesus! He will heal us! I take comfort in the promise of John 6:37, "Him that cometh to me, I will in no wise cast out." That means, Jesus will never turn us away. He is our remedy to the leprosy of sin and selfishness that threatens to destroy our lives. Praise the Lord!

Tomorrow's Reading:  Lev. 15-16 and Acts 9