17th October 2024
Bold humbleness
This is the 29th in a series of studies on the subject of prayer
A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said, ‘Be clean!’ Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy.
Matthew 8:2-3 (NIVUK)
How should we approach God when we pray? Some people approach prayer demanding that God acts, naming and claiming what they want God to do. Others can be so reticent that their prayers indicate that they are not really sure if God can or will do anything. The leper in the header scripture provides us with a balanced approach by coming to Jesus with a bold humbleness.
In his condition, coming to Jesus at all was a bold move. At that time anyone with leprosy was considered an outcast. At best, because of their contagious skin condition, they had to keep their distance from others, and according to Old Testament regulations: ‘Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of their face and cry out, “Unclean! Unclean!” As long as they have the disease they remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp.’ (Leviticus 13:45-46).
Having no doubt heard of Jesus’s healing ministry, this leper did not let this preclude him from approaching Jesus and he boldly asked for Jesus to make him clean. But in doing so he approached Jesus with humility. He didn’t presume that he would be welcomed, and so he knelt before Jesus and reverently asked. ‘Lord if you are willing, you can make me clean’. In doing so he demonstrated his faith in Jesus to do something, and Jesus showed his compassion by cleansing this man of his leprosy.
This brief incident in the gospel account provides a model for us to consider in praying. We can approach God boldly in prayer, knowing that grace is available for us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16). We can approach God in this way because of Jesus’s sacrifice on our behalf, which interestingly took place ‘outside the camp’ (Hebrews 13:12-13), opening a new and living way into God’s presence (Hebrews 10:19-20). But as we come to God in prayer, we are to remember that he is God, and we are not. That he is the Almighty God, the Sovereign Lord of the universe, and we are his creation. That he is our Father, and we are his children, and so in coming boldly to him, we are to show due respect and reverence, and come in humility.
As we pray, may we come to the great God with bold humility, demonstrating our faith and trust in him, and experiencing his grace and compassion.
Prayer
Loving Father, thank you that your Son through his death, resurrection, and ascension has made it possible for us to confidently come into your presence and communicate with you. We kneel before you in humility, as we share our lives with you, and seek your grace and compassion. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
|
Study by: Barry Robinson About the author: |
|
Local congregation:
Grace Communion West Hampstead
Sidings Community Centre
150 Brassey Road
West Hampstead
London
NW6 2BA
Meeting time:
Sunday 12.30 pm
Local congregational contact:
Gordon Brown
gordon.brown@gracecom.church
Word of Life contact:
wordoflife@gracecom.church