Journal - Outcast - wk01
Outcast
Luke 5:12-15
Week 1/Day 2
Hello. Hello to all of God’s beautiful creations. This is the day that the Lord has made. So, let us rejoice and be glad in it because we are fearfully and wonderfully handcrafted by our Creator, specifically designed to be here at this time, all together creating a community that loves the Lord and that brings glory to his name.
I know that is such a cheesy way to start this, but it’s true. And doesn’t that just make you smile? Doesn’t it make you feel good to know that God wanted all of us here and that he wants to know us, and that he wants us to know each other? I think that has a lot to do with what we are going to be talking about today.
First off, hi. My name is Daisy. And today, I’m going to be working through some scripture with you guys as we open our Bibles and just spend some quality alone time with God. Today we are going to be spending time in Luke 5:12-15 (NIV). We’re going to look at Jesus healing a man with leprosy.
If you have our Alone With God journal, please use that. Otherwise, you can use a piece of paper. And if you don’t have our Alone With God journal, please reach out to us so that one of our team members can share with you how to get a copy. It is a journal that has been intentionally constructed to help you get the most out of your alone time with God, and it is such a wonderful and necessary tool. So, you will need your Bible, a pen, and a piece of paper or the journal today.
Open your Bibles to Luke 5:12-15 (NIV). Let’s spend some time in some scripture together. I will be reading the verse. Then we will meditate on it, talk about it, and then I will send you off to work on this passage on your own and how it applies to your life before we close with prayer.
Luke 5:12-15 (NIV)
12 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said.“ Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.
14 Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
15 Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses.
That passage, it just leaves me speechless every time I read it. And sometimes, reading this passage leaves me with a lot of shame, which I try to remind myself is just the Holy Spirit urging me to obey God. It’s not for punishment. But I read these verses, and I just think, you know, how many times has a homeless person come up to me and I perceived them as sick, or dirty, or disheveled looking, and they’ve asked for my help? But I’ve just looked the other way and avoided them because I felt afraid or uncomfortable. Even if I had the means to help, I didn’t because I was too consumed with myself and my feelings to help.
Whereas Jesus doesn’t even hesitate. He is always willing to give and to heal all throughout the New Testament. And he drew close to the ones that society had turned its back on without even missing a beat. When Jesus says, “I am willing,” it is so powerful. “I am willing. Be clean!” because this was the leper’s last chance. He was as desperate as anyone could be. Desperate to be seen and to be healed. And when Jesus touches him, it was so unheard of. Lepers were not allowed to live with their families or within society because they were seen as unclean. They were rejected. Anyone who came in contact with them was also considered to be unclean.
But that didn’t stop Jesus. The things that stop us from loving and helping others didn’t stop Jesus. And so, we’re called to have this same attitude with others that Jesus has toward them and toward us. As we head into the holidays, I think this is something that I’m really going to be taking to heart because there are so many people out there who are about to enter this season where they aren’t invited to sit with their family at Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. And they don’t have a church to go to, or they don’t have food to nourish their bodies, or they don’t even have someone they can ask for a hug from.
And society has turned its back on them, and their families might have turned their back on them, or they don’t have family or friends. And they are so lonely and so full of despair, and people walk past them, and they don’t even know. And that breaks my heart because Jesus so effortlessly did more than so many of us consider doing. And it’s not because we don’t want to, but because we’re busy, or we’re afraid, or uncomfortable. Or maybe sometimes we do it, and we give ourselves a nice pat on the back like we were such a good Christian for helping that person. But did we connect with them? Were we a friend to them? Did we leave them feeling a little bit more healed in the way that Jesus left people feeling healed?
That needs to change. And not just this holiday season but for the remainder of our lives. That needs to change.
Take some time and in the Meditate section of your journal, write what God's Word is saying in this passage. What are the spritual principles here?
And so, I want to read this verse one more time and just really picture it in your minds. And then, we are going to go ahead and take some time and apply this passage to our lives. It’s making me tear up, and it’s really touching me – let’s read it through one more time.
Luke 5:12-15 (NIV)
12 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said.“ Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.
14 Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
15 Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses.
When we love other people in the way that Jesus asked us to, we are sharing the testimony of Christ. We are giving someone the most important thing that they can have in this life, which is hope and a connection to their Creator.
So, I want you to look at your own life, and I want you to Apply this passage to your life. How can you draw from this verse in a very personal way? What is God trying to teach you? Trying to show you, trying to change in you? So, just take a moment, and reflect. (Write down what is being revealed to you.)
Now I want you to Respond to God. What intentional action can you be taking today to apply this truth to your life? How? How do you plan on implementing a daily response to this verse with changed behavior, a changed mindset? (Take some time and write your response to what the Holy Spirit has shown you.)
Finally, I want you to Pray. Ask God to help you to befriend those in need, to truly connect with them in a way that reflects the love of Christ. You can pray out loud, or you can write your prayer.
Now, let’s end this time with God in prayer.
Lord, there is so much pain in this world, and it can be overwhelming to know what to do or who to help. I pray that you would simplify that challenge for us and help us to reach out to people who have fallen, who are struggling, who are outcasts. Please present us with opportunities to love others, to love them dearly, and to help love them for your glory. Help us to remember that what you have created is sacred. Help us to take care of your creations, to minister to them, and help us to love and care for them in your name. Amen.
I know that is such a cheesy way to start this, but it’s true. And doesn’t that just make you smile? Doesn’t it make you feel good to know that God wanted all of us here and that he wants to know us, and that he wants us to know each other? I think that has a lot to do with what we are going to be talking about today.
First off, hi. My name is Daisy. And today, I’m going to be working through some scripture with you guys as we open our Bibles and just spend some quality alone time with God. Today we are going to be spending time in Luke 5:12-15 (NIV). We’re going to look at Jesus healing a man with leprosy.
If you have our Alone With God journal, please use that. Otherwise, you can use a piece of paper. And if you don’t have our Alone With God journal, please reach out to us so that one of our team members can share with you how to get a copy. It is a journal that has been intentionally constructed to help you get the most out of your alone time with God, and it is such a wonderful and necessary tool. So, you will need your Bible, a pen, and a piece of paper or the journal today.
Open your Bibles to Luke 5:12-15 (NIV). Let’s spend some time in some scripture together. I will be reading the verse. Then we will meditate on it, talk about it, and then I will send you off to work on this passage on your own and how it applies to your life before we close with prayer.
Luke 5:12-15 (NIV)
12 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said.“ Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.
14 Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
15 Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses.
That passage, it just leaves me speechless every time I read it. And sometimes, reading this passage leaves me with a lot of shame, which I try to remind myself is just the Holy Spirit urging me to obey God. It’s not for punishment. But I read these verses, and I just think, you know, how many times has a homeless person come up to me and I perceived them as sick, or dirty, or disheveled looking, and they’ve asked for my help? But I’ve just looked the other way and avoided them because I felt afraid or uncomfortable. Even if I had the means to help, I didn’t because I was too consumed with myself and my feelings to help.
Whereas Jesus doesn’t even hesitate. He is always willing to give and to heal all throughout the New Testament. And he drew close to the ones that society had turned its back on without even missing a beat. When Jesus says, “I am willing,” it is so powerful. “I am willing. Be clean!” because this was the leper’s last chance. He was as desperate as anyone could be. Desperate to be seen and to be healed. And when Jesus touches him, it was so unheard of. Lepers were not allowed to live with their families or within society because they were seen as unclean. They were rejected. Anyone who came in contact with them was also considered to be unclean.
But that didn’t stop Jesus. The things that stop us from loving and helping others didn’t stop Jesus. And so, we’re called to have this same attitude with others that Jesus has toward them and toward us. As we head into the holidays, I think this is something that I’m really going to be taking to heart because there are so many people out there who are about to enter this season where they aren’t invited to sit with their family at Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner. And they don’t have a church to go to, or they don’t have food to nourish their bodies, or they don’t even have someone they can ask for a hug from.
And society has turned its back on them, and their families might have turned their back on them, or they don’t have family or friends. And they are so lonely and so full of despair, and people walk past them, and they don’t even know. And that breaks my heart because Jesus so effortlessly did more than so many of us consider doing. And it’s not because we don’t want to, but because we’re busy, or we’re afraid, or uncomfortable. Or maybe sometimes we do it, and we give ourselves a nice pat on the back like we were such a good Christian for helping that person. But did we connect with them? Were we a friend to them? Did we leave them feeling a little bit more healed in the way that Jesus left people feeling healed?
That needs to change. And not just this holiday season but for the remainder of our lives. That needs to change.
Take some time and in the Meditate section of your journal, write what God's Word is saying in this passage. What are the spritual principles here?
And so, I want to read this verse one more time and just really picture it in your minds. And then, we are going to go ahead and take some time and apply this passage to our lives. It’s making me tear up, and it’s really touching me – let’s read it through one more time.
Luke 5:12-15 (NIV)
12 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said.“ Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.
14 Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
15 Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses.
When we love other people in the way that Jesus asked us to, we are sharing the testimony of Christ. We are giving someone the most important thing that they can have in this life, which is hope and a connection to their Creator.
So, I want you to look at your own life, and I want you to Apply this passage to your life. How can you draw from this verse in a very personal way? What is God trying to teach you? Trying to show you, trying to change in you? So, just take a moment, and reflect. (Write down what is being revealed to you.)
Now I want you to Respond to God. What intentional action can you be taking today to apply this truth to your life? How? How do you plan on implementing a daily response to this verse with changed behavior, a changed mindset? (Take some time and write your response to what the Holy Spirit has shown you.)
Finally, I want you to Pray. Ask God to help you to befriend those in need, to truly connect with them in a way that reflects the love of Christ. You can pray out loud, or you can write your prayer.
Now, let’s end this time with God in prayer.
Lord, there is so much pain in this world, and it can be overwhelming to know what to do or who to help. I pray that you would simplify that challenge for us and help us to reach out to people who have fallen, who are struggling, who are outcasts. Please present us with opportunities to love others, to love them dearly, and to help love them for your glory. Help us to remember that what you have created is sacred. Help us to take care of your creations, to minister to them, and help us to love and care for them in your name. Amen.