How Big is your God?

That’s a question only you can answer. But the answer is significant, because the size of your God determines your willingness to trust Him in every situation. How do you see Him? When faced with issues in life, do you pray first or last? Is it the first thing you do when you hit a brick wall, or is it only after done everything in your power that you call on your God? Are worries and fears your regular companions in life, or do you truly have faith that your God is big enough to solve all your problems?

In Luke 5, we see Jesus ministering to two men, both of whom are completely helpless to solve their own problems. Maybe seeing these two examples will help you make YOUR God bigger!

The first man is full of leprosy. Leprosy is an ancient disease, and those who suffered from it often suffered in the mind, also. Part of that may be because in Biblical times, an leper was turned into an outcast.

Leviticus 13:45

45 "As for the leper who has the infection, his clothes shall be torn, and the hair of his head shall be uncovered, and he shall cover his mustache and cry, "Unclean! Unclean!'

To the Jews, leprosy was a sign of sin, and it was incurable and loathsome. That’s a perfect picture of us as sinners!

Isaiah 1:5-6

5 Where will you be stricken again,

As you continue in your rebellion?

The whole head is sick

And the whole heart is faint.

6 From the sole of the foot even to the head

There is nothing sound in it,

Only bruises, welts and raw wounds,

Not pressed out or bandaged,

Nor softened with oil.

Imagine how it felt to be a leper, outcast, unworthy, full of shame. But this leper walks directly up to Jesus:

Luke 5:12-14

12 While He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man covered with leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean."

Such a simplistic statement, and yet so magnificent. Apply this same statement to your own life! He has the ability to do anything! Look what Jesus does next:

13 And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." And immediately the leprosy left him.

Understand that Jesus could do anything. Jesus is absolutely limitless in ability. He can say to anyone, “I am willing; be cleansed.” There was no requirement for Jesus to actually touch the leper! But instead, in compassion for this outcast, He reaches out and touches this grotesque and repulsive man.

Look at it this way: Jesus came to touch the untouchables! No matter how disgusting or sinful we may be, our God is big enough to cleanse us, and willing to compassionately reach out to us.

Next time we’ll look at the great story of the paralytic, whose friends lowered him from the roof.