Love at First Sex? Finding Purity in a Sex-Crazed WorldSample

You Can Make Me Clean (conviction)

Have you ever felt so disgusted with yourself that you believed there was no way anyone would ever want to be near you again? Have you felt like God would never forgive you for something you’ve done? Let’s take a lesson from the leper and the paralytic.

In Luke 5:12 we learn of a man who is covered in sores and is a leper. People with leprosy were cast out of their communities and really had no chance of healing except by a miracle. They had oozing sores from head to toe. They were probably difficult to even look at. Yet, when this man came begging for healing, Jesus had no problem reaching out and touching the man! This was unthinkable!

The first thing we learn from the leper is that he humbled himself before Jesus. He fell on his face and begged Him! The second thing we learn is faith. The leper didn’t say “can you heal me?” He said “Lord if You are willing, You CAN make me clean.” This statement shows his faith in Jesus. He already knows that Jesus is able, but wanted to know if He was willing. Jesus then touched the man and said “I am willing; Be cleansed.”

Let’s humble ourselves and have faith in Jesus. Asking equaled being cleansed and restored forever.

Later in Luke 5, we see a paralytic carried up to a roof and let down through a hole to be in front of Jesus. We don’t get to hear what the paralytic said, but only see his and his friends’ actions. They were showing faith in Jesus just by getting him in front of Jesus. They were seeking healing. Jesus first says that He forgives this man’s sins. He was getting through to the bigger picture immediately. Jesus knew He needed spiritual healing. Of course, the Pharisees began to grumble about this. So what does Jesus do? He physically heals the man as well, proving He has authority on earth to forgive sins and heal physically.

In this lesson we are learning that there is no spiritual or physical ailment that Jesus can’t heal! I’m adding this story for all of you who feel like you’ve already blown it when it comes to living a pure life. Maybe you’re like I was, living a sexual lifestyle before marriage or being promiscuous in your actions or dress, or looking at unwholesome things. JESUS WILL MEET YOU WHERE YOU’RE AT- HE WANTS YOUR HEART.

That doesn’t mean He’s ok with you continuing to sin. He wants to fully cleanse you just like He did for the leper.

The way the leper looked on the outside is how I felt on the inside. I was disgusting and covered in sin. I was feeling more and more convicted each day. I knew what we were doing was wrong. My flesh would fail and I would have to seek forgiveness. I was like the apostle Paul when he said, “Why do I do the things I hate!” It was a battle between my flesh and my spirit.

So what can we do? We can remember the foundation of our faith; praying and reading the Word.

These are incredibly important. You are in the Word now. Keep it up! Good job! Pray each morning. Pray for God to open your eyes to what you’re doing before you go down a path you might regret. When you fail and sin again, pray and repent. Pray in the moment. Pray at night. Pray at all times.

The thing I didn’t do, which would have helped me tremendously, was to have a trusted friend keep me in check. Have someone you can talk to about these things, someone who won’t judge you, but will hold you accountable. Don’t have a trusted, Christian friend? Pray that God will send you the right person. I’m praying for you friends!