The Cleansing Touch

How my heart resonated with the lepers who sat with torn clothes, unkept hair, calling out "Unclean, Unclean", living in a place of isolation. I'm sure the stigma of being a social outcast evokes more pain than the disease. Separated from friends and family.If not for the sacrifice of Christ, I would be sitting right next to them. Shame would be my portion. The priest would declare me "ceremonially unclean".

Unclean heart. Unclean life. Unclean by sin. Unclean by birth. Unclean thoughts. Unclean motives. Unclean words. Unclean. Worthy of being cut off from fellowship with God. It's only by God's grace and mercy that I'm not living "outside the camp".

Jesus taught in Mark 7:20-23, "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.' "

2 Corinthians 7:1 says, "let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God".

Job asks in Job 14:4, "Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean?"

Touch or be touched by Jesus.

The hem of Christ's garment was touched by a hand of faith in Mark 5:22-34 and a woman, bleeding and unclean for twelve years received healing. Earlier in the same gospel, (Mark 1:40-45), we read of Jesus having compassion on a man with leprosy, and putting His hand on him, gave healing.

Today, do you need to receive the touch of Jesus? A healing touch. A liberating touch. A comforting touch. An enlightening touch. A guiding touch. You do not need to remain "unclean". Whatever your need, He has the cleansing touch.