Ines Franklin

In Luke 5, we read of a leper who does the unthinkable. He, an "unclean," unlovable, dishonored, rejected man, approaches Jesus. With bold humility he asks, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." We can learn so much from this story. All of us pray, but few of us are willing to pray boldly, and so often we do not pray with humility. Are we afraid that our requests might be unreasonable? Are we afraid that God is not able or willing to answer our prayer? Are we refusing to humble ourselves? But, what if – because He loves us – he is not only willing, but he is waiting for us to ask? (Mariners Church Chapel, Irvine CA)