Follow, Submit and Obey

(Matthew 8:1-4)

1 After he came down from the mountain, large crowds followed him.

2 And a leper approached, and bowed low before him, saying, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean."

3 He stretched out his hand and touched him saying, "I am willing. Be clean!" Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

4 Then Jesus said to him, "See that you do not speak to anyone, but go, show yourself to a priest, and bring the offering that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them."

When I come across the book of Matthew 8:1-5; it seems to be a very similar, simple, or familiar story from the collections of different stories in the Bible. But as much as I wanted to understand its message, there was a wonderful revelation that comes in my mind. And this story helps me to realize the obedience to God's authority and commands.

Indeed, the story is all about the man who has leprosy but was healed. During that time, the worst and poorest thing that may call a person the most unclean is when you are infected with this kind of disease. You are considered as the most sinful or cursed person during those times. And considering that this man will follow Jesus together with the crowd, he really needs courage to do it as he will definitely be humiliated and embarrassed.

The leper is teaching us that we can follow Jesus, no matter who we are. We all fall short before God's Glory, and none can ever surpass Him. Following Him needs to give some effort. As people gathered in crowd to follow Jesus in the mountain, which represents an obstacle, and so are we. As we look forward to God's glory on top of the mountain, it gives us strength and courage to move forward taking a step little by little until we reach his destination.

Following Jesus, is also imitating him. We allow Him to influence us through His example. Jesus himself set an example of living in righteousness while we are here on earth, therefore, we can also achieve the same. We have to travel the path which He has also taken to reach such holiness even how huge is the obstacles. At the end of the day, you will be on top of your own mountain.

Following Jesus is equally the same as being obedient to Him. But it doesn't stop from there. The leper's desire to approach Jesus is to take the opportunity to commune and converse with God. Its the only way to voice out our heart's content. And it's also our way to understand the will of God. We have to talk to God, we have to approach Him. It is a perfect example that access to God doesn't require anything to offer, nothing but humbleness to move a little step forward and pray. But we have to learn from the leper's prayer. He is seeking the will of God as he wish for healing, he asks for God's will. He seeks for God's purpose and plans before his own plan. He respect the possible answers from God, it could be a Yes or it could be a No.

Was the answer received when the leper was asked for his healing? Yes, and He answered according to his will. If it is God's will, the answer is instant. Immediately, you will receive what you were asking from God if that aligns with God's will. Nothing can stop the perfect will of God, even if it’s impossible. This is what the healing of the leper proves that No one can stop the will of the Lord. But in this scene, the leper asked for the will of God rather than to start asking for his own healing from the beginning of his approach.

And so, the leper received healing. Jesus instantly healed him for his wilful submission to the will of God. After that, Jesus has commanded him to keep it to his self but go to priest and give offering to his temple as his testimony for the goodness of the Lord in him. This is the greatest challenge for everyone, to obey what the Lord has instructed us to do even if it's already as clear as water to understand. The story stops there, I myself, not very sure if he did it. But one thing that reveals to me, that this passage talks to me straight from my heart, that God is a God of chances, of opportunities, and of possibilities. To follow Jesus and His footstep is the beginning, but to obey Him is the testimony of God's great will in our life.

I want to challenge myself and maybe everyone of us, be brave to do the command of God as he continuously bless us, now and the days to come!

God bless you all!

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