Let us look at some of the characteristics of the Lord’s ministry in Luke 5. First we come to the poor leper (vs. 12). What does he say? “Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.” Do you believe in the reality of the varied ministerial glories of Christ? Then delight in it. I may think that the first thing I have to do is imitate Him but my soul says that the duty attaching to the first look at Christ is delight to be “lost in wonder, love and praise.” Then, if such an object pass before me, I say I will appropriate it to myself. I say, “That is for me.” This is the day of faith the obedient attitude of faith. When I can trust myself to Him, that is the most blessed obedience I can render.
The leper comes with a half heart “if Thou wilt.” It was a shabby thought. We ought be ashamed to come to a dear friend and say, “You have a hand to give, if you have a heart that wants to give.” I say it was a shabby thought, but the Lord bore with it. He says, “I will: be thou clean.”
Can you trust the heart of Christ? Faith says it can trust the heart of Christ better than any other heart. Here is comfort. I may be very conscious that I have approached Him feebly. Fallen human nature is a legalist—an errant unbeliever. But I am encouraged here to know that though my approach may be feeble, the answer will be blessedly full.
J. G. Bellett (adapted from Notes on the Gospel of Luke)