Leviticus 12:1-14:32
Leviticus 14:1-2, 8, "And the Lord said to Moses, ‘The following instructions are for those seeking ceremonial purification from a skin disease. Those who have been healed must be brought to the priest ... The persons being purified must then wash their clothes, shave off all their hair, and bathe themselves in water. Then they will be ceremonially clean and may return to the camp...'"
Unhealthy skin is most often an outward sign of what's happening below the surface. And that's exactly what's going on in today's reading! On a superficial level, we read about cleansing for the deadly and painfully isolating disease, leprosy. But if we dig deeper, we discover God showing us something much more profound - how to cleanse our hearts.
In Old Testament times, lepers were considered unclean and had to live separately from everyone else. Because leprosy had no known cure, anyone who was healed was considered an anomaly, and they were believed to have a special calling. So, they were given a special anointing that was not only for outward, physical cleansing but also for inward, spiritual cleansing. Only then were they allowed to reenter the Israelite community.
Like those with leprosy, we are also alone and isolated from God when we are sick with sin. But the moment we surrender our lives to Christ and declare Him Lord, we are healed from the inside out. We are cleansed from our past and made new; our ability to enter God's presence is restored.
Do you currently have any sin festering in your life? Although you may be eternally cleansed, are you allowing a habit or certain lifestyle choices to separate you from hearing God's voice and fulling your "special calling?" If so, present yourself to the ultimate High Priest - Jesus - and allow His restorative power to make your life healthy and whole.
Dear Lord, Only You can bring true healing into my life. Forgive me for the following sins I've allowed to fester ________ and cleanse my heart that I may fulfill my purpose. Amen.