Our Daily Bread Teens EditionSample

Read Luke 5:12–16

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 illnesses. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Reaching Out

Passengers on a train saw a heart-warming end to a tense moment. They watched as a 70-year-old woman gently reached out and offered her hand to a young man whose loud voice and disturbing words were scaring other passengers. Her kindness calmed the man down, and he stopped. With tears in his eyes, he thanked her, then left. The woman later admitted to being afraid. But she said, “I’m a mother and he needed someone to reach out to him.” While it might have been safer to keep her distance, she took a risk of love.

Jesus had such compassion. When a man full of leprosy showed up begging to be healed, He didn’t react with fear like everyone else. Neither was He helpless, like the religious leaders; they would just have judged the man for bringing his disease into the village (Leviticus 13:45–46). Instead, Jesus reached out to someone who probably hadn’t been touched by anyone for years, and healed him (Luke 5:13).

Thankfully, for that man and for us, Jesus came to offer us the best gift ever—the touch of His hand to change our lives. —MD

No one is outside of Jesus’ reach.

And… Action!

Reach out to someone who is neglected or looked down on by others today. For instance, you could write an encouraging note to the classmate everyone doesn’t like, and tell him that Jesus loves him. 

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