Set Me Free: Devotions From Time of Grace MinistryChikamu

SET ME FREE FROM PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS: I'M DISFIGURED There was a reason why the phantom of the opera wore a half mask. The right side of his face was disfigured, and he was ashamed of it. Life is hard. Life is even harder if your face or skin is disfigured. Our society worships and adores physical beauty and assigns much less value to people who aren't good-looking. Cleft palate, rosacea, and severe acne all make people feel like second- or third-class members of society. They are self-conscious in front of people and know that their looks will close doors throughout their lives. "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'" (Luke 5:12). Leprosy brought a triple curse. Not only did it blotch your skin, but certain types caused nerve death in one's extremities, causing that tissue to die. Worst of all--it was thought to be contagious, and lepers were utterly quarantined and isolated from human contact. Jesus' heart hurt when he encountered people who suffered from leprosy. He himself knew what it was like to be ugly. He himself was "disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness" (Isaiah 52:14). Then and now he responds with compassion, miraculous medical care, special blessings like reconstructive surgery, and hope for a better future.