The only place for that problem you are carrying is worship. The only way you are going to stop it getting larger so that it dominates your environment is worship. You can consume your problem with worship or you can be consumed by the problem.
After his sermon the first person he encounters is a leper. There are no more details about the man, we don’t know what kind of leprosy and at the time it would cover all kinds of skin disease, but what we do know is that leprosy stigmatised him within his community, he was an outcast.
“When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosycame and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” (Matthew 8 v 1-4)
If there was fear of contracting any disease then leprosy held the greatest. It totally ruined your life and those of your family. You became ostracised, an outcast with a social stigma that you never recovered from. Leprosy was permanent and gradually got worse. There was no future for the leper.
Whoever this man was he knew that according to form, Jesus could heal leprosy.
Even though his leprosy was so bad he was covered with it, Jesus could do it.
It is whether Jesus was willing.
So the man did what we all should do in similar situations.
Lay the burden down in worship.
The KJV says of verse 2, “And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.”
He laid down, he brought the leprosy down to the feet of Jesus. His sickness was not even on the same level of importance as Jesus and certainly not bigger than him. His problem was less than the presence of Jesus. Our problems still are. No matter how huge they are or how terminal they may be, they are not as important as His presence in our life at this moment.
The man fell down into the posture of worship.
There was a moment when Jesus fell down in the garden and said a similar thing. For Jesus he would realise the will of His Father was to keep going to the cross.
For us, whatever the seismic problem you wake to today, then lay down in worship before His presence. Realise whether He wills it or not, here at His feet is the best place you can be. There is nowhere else to go but His presence. What can you do but worship? Worship outweighs will.
But for this man he found that Jesus was willing.
Jesus was willing to do what no other would do, he touched the man. Whatever your problem Jesus still touches men and women today and you are never far from a move of God upon your life.
Jesus was willing to work with his cultural laws, the priest had to examine the man so he could re-enter his community. God has a place for you within community and He will lead you to take up that position so you can hold your head up high.
Jesus was willing to take the risk on the real reason for his mission. That is why he asked the man for silence. He didn’t want to jeopardise the reason by causing people to only focus on the miracles. The answer to your problem has to submit to the higher purpose that God has for you.
Missions Paul 