15 Nov Illness of the Heart

A little over a month ago, I was doing my morning devotion and the focus verse for the day was out of Leviticus 13. I was not familiar with this passage of Scripture so I read through the entire chapter.

Chapter 13 details how the priest is to determine whether or not an Israelite is infected with leprosy. God gave specific directions to Moses and Aaron on how to diagnose the dreaded disease. As a nurse, I found this quite fascinating, so I read two different commentaries to gain a fuller understanding of the context. While reading the commentaries, I was struck by the fact that they both mentioned leprosy was not native to the Israelite nation. It was believed that the Israelites acquired the terrifying illness from Egypt while they were in bondage as slaves there. According to one commentary, it took a little more than a year for the symptoms to appear once the Israelites had gained their freedom and exile from Egypt.

I don’t know if it is my nursing background or my odd sense of curiosity, but I have been captivated by this Scripture. I have not been able to shake the idea that although leprosy of the skin is not common to our culture; leprosy of our souls very much is. As I read further into Chapter 13 and how God classifies sores of the skin and their varying degrees of infection, I thought over my own life and how there have been sores of my soul that needed the divine diagnosis of our Most High Priest. I began to ponder my past decisions and how they seemed so innocuous at the time of their making. I began to remember the timing of these decisions and how I was in deep bondage to my unmet desires and self-doubt. I was living enslaved to our culture and my own criticism of myself. I believed every negative thought that indicted me as guilty and not good enough at every turn. I did not know at the time of my wandering that I was being exposed to spiritual leprosy and eventually the infection left painful blemishes on my heart.

“I thought over my own life and how there have been sores of my soul that needed the divine diagnosis of our Most High Priest.”

In order to ensure healing and stop the spread of disease, God instructed Moses and Aaron to have the infected return to them every seven days so they could deem them clean or unclean. As I think about this process to declare healing and cleanliness, I am ever so thankful for the blood of Christ. His blood, His sacrifice cleanses us forever. It flows over us and into the deepest hurts of our souls and in an instant we are healed. We no longer have to live our lives stifled by the infection that we once had. We no longer have to live within the limitations of our own minds. We no longer have to believe the lies that we choose to. The blood of Christ empowers us to live emboldened lives. We get to pick up the very life that Christ laid down for us on the Cross and claim it as our own. We are daughters of the Most High and He longs to live victoriously in and through us.

With gratitude, bring your hearts to the Lord and rest in His presence. It is in Christ and Christ alone that we will find our refuge. Paul says it best in Philipians 4:4 – 9,

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me— put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”

I don’t know where you may find yourself as we enter into another holiday season. You may be in chronic pain, dealing with the devastating news of a terminal illness, in a time of great loss,
in a hard marriage or in a season of singleness you have not planned, the parent of a prodigal or dealing with infertility. Praise God, you may be enjoying the bounty of His blessings! No matter what season the Lord may ask you to walk right now, walk with boldness and assurance that you are whole, you are healed, and you are His.

-Karis Sadie, Powdersville