How to Become an Effective City Shaker and Disciple Maker in this Leprous World
Ps Francis Alvarado
Have you ever been rejected or hated? Ever been excluded for your accent or skin color, status or poverty, family or traditions? Or became maybe the opposite, the one rejecting or hating someone for these reasons? If so, I want you to reflect with that experience and understand what it meant to be a leper in Jesus’ day, and to observe how Jesus treated this remarkable leper.
Leprosy in Biblical Times was a terrible thing. Once a person was diagnosed by this disease, it was considered incurable and must be banned from the society. “The person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ As long as he has the infection he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp” (Leviticus 13:45-46). More importantly, they were considered sinners, dying and were disfavored by God. Nowadays, a lot of people are like lepers: hopeless and dying in their sinful nature. Our society then now becomes a leprous world. The Good News is God is raising people committed to reach this generation: the City Shakers and Disciple Makers! And at this moment, the problem is how to be an effective CSDM amidst this leprous world.
The answer is found on how Jesus treated the leper man in Mark 9:40-41, “Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.” However let’s first take a look at the leper man. In verse 40, he implored, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” This statement is remarkable for its faith. It refers not to question God’s ability, Jesus is able to Heal, after all He is the Son of God but our faith often doesn’t extend to the hardest situations. Just believe God’s promises and have great faith. Knowing Jesus’ response in v.41, “…He was moved with compassion….” Foremost, have a compassionate heart. Notice Jesus in Matthew 9:36, “But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary[f] and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.” The lack of compassion is the reason why many Christians do not actively seek to save others because compassion is envisioning what will happen to people if they do not receive Jesus in their hearts. Afterwards, Jesus stretched out His hand touched him, thus we need to touch the hearts of the people. People do avoid lepers because they believe it is contagious and for a Jew, touching a leper will defile him. But Jesus acted differently. Instead He held out His hand and touched him. Don’t be afraid of this leprous world, it truly needs people who will reach them and touch their hearts. Finally, when Jesus said, “I am willing; be cleansed,” He verbalized what was in His heart so us we. Visibly verbalize the word of God and His promises – healing, provisions and a lot more because it will give hope to this dying world.
The question now is that are you willing to be used by God in reaching this leprous world? Learn by heart that, “If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best from the land” (Isaiah 1:19). May the burning compassion of the Lord Jesus Christ, be burned in our hearts as City Shakers and Disciple Makers!
