January 10, 2002

"Lord, if You are willing,
You can make me clean."

"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" (Matthew 8:2, 3, NKJV).

Jesus is ready and willing to cleanse us from our infirmities and from our sins (see Matthew 9:2-7). John tells us that we are cleansed by the words of Jesus and by His blood, if we walk in the "light" of Jesus (see John 15:3 and 1 John 1:7).

Jeremiah shared the promise of the Lord to His people who had been rebellious. "I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned and by which they have transgressed against Me" (Jeremiah 33:8). David plead with the Lord, "Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your lovingkindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin" (Psalms 51:1, 2). David further testified, "How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word" (Psalms 119:9).

John said, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:3, 9). Jesus said, "The one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out... This is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day" (John 6:37, 40).

Jesus said, "I am willing; be cleansed!" (Matthew 8:3).