Abounding goodness! – Dr. Paul Dhinakaran

“…. my people will be filled with my bounty”   (Jeremiah 31:14)
May the Lord cherish you, take care of you and fill you with all the good things even today. Yes, God is our father. He wants us to be happy all the time. He says, “I give my peace to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) God wants you to be at peace all the time. That is why every time the Lord visited His disciples, He assured them of His peace. Even today, let everything bring you peace. May you be filled with joy and finish the day with God’s abounding goodness. The Lord is with you all the time for this very purpose. Once when Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. In that crowd there was a leper and he came to Jesus. He bowed down before Him and asked the Lord to heal him if He was willing to heal (Matthew 8:1,2).

In those days, a leper was separated from the residents of a place and was forced to stay away in a remote place. They have to dwell alone. They have to leave their family and go alone to a faraway place. In our times, people who are affected by corona are separated from their family and are quarantined. They are isolated from their loved ones and are alone in hospitals. If some of them die, their bodies are being burnt and not given to their family members for burial. In many countries, they are buried in mass graves. They are dumping hundreds in the same pit. These are perilous times. The leper was in a similar state. Also, if anyone crosses a leper they should shout “Unclean! Unclean! I am unclean!”. That was the law of that day.

Today, you might be facing such saddening circumstances. May be your own heart shouts at you saying, “you are unclean”. May be you feel rejected and dejected. May be you are saying, “don’t come to me, I am cursed”. In this state only the leper came to Jesus seeking His favour. Do you know what happened? When he shouted saying, “Lord if you are willing, please make me clean”, the Lord heard him and stretched out His hand and touched him who was feeling unloved all the time and healed him (Matthew 8:3). When the Law forbid everyone from touching the lepers, the Lord showed His power to cancel the writings against us (Colossians 2:14) and touched him. This shows the compassion of the Lord. The Lord hasn’t changed and He is still willing and His hands are still stretched toward you to bless you.

Prayer:
Loving Lord,

Establish these words in my life. Let me experience your goodness in a sufficient measure. Make me clean by placing Your hand on me. Purify me. Heal me. Deliver me. Help me to live peacefully and blessedly with my loved ones in my family and society. Give me a new life. In Your sweet name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen.
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