Lent Day #14

Luke 5:12-16 (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. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

THOUGHTS:
I always find it amusing when Jesus tells people "Don't tell anyone". The result is usually the same -- soon everyone knows about it! Is Jesus using reverse psychology? Does he really want people to tell, or not to tell? I don't know.

Maybe it is simply that when something so wonderful and miraculous happens to us, we can't help but tell the story. That's part of what evangelism is all about -- sharing the story of how Jesus changes our lives.

Verse 16 is easy to gloss over, but quite important: "Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed." We see this throughout the Gospels...and it seems like it is usually mentioned when Jesus is busiest. Consider any of the political candidates all over the news these days -- everybody wants to talk to them, to shake their hand, to hear them speak, to be around them. This is the kind of attention Jesus was probably getting from the masses -- only with more intensity because they had heard that he could heal them on the spot!

Jesus leaves the throngs of people to find solitude with God. In the midst of his busy-ness is when Jesus makes time to find a "lonely place" and pray.

If Jesus, who in some way was God, needed these times to recharge -- to connect with God to get him through the chaos of life -- how much more do we need to make time in our lives to make ourselves available to God. What are your "lonely places"? Do you find time to go there and be present with God? Can you find ways to make more time to pray in your busiest times?

LUTHER'S MORNING PRAYER:
(As found in the Lutheran Book of Prayer, Concordia, 1970)

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray You that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the wicked Foe may have no power over me. Amen.