Be Made Clean

Once, when he was in one of the cities, there was a man covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground and begged him, "Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean." Then Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, "I do choose. Be made clean."

- Luke 5:12-13.

I read this text today and it appealed to the addict in me. I need healing. And I have asked Christ for healing on many occasions.

But as I was praying about this text today, something new occurred to me. Do I know what healing is? Is my understanding of being cleansed the same that Christ has for me?

When I pray for healing from my addiction, in my mind I am really asking Christ to take away the temptations, stresses, and other triggers that lead me to act out. Healing in this sense means an easy life for me.

But what if Christ has a different meaning in mind when he says, "Be made clean"? What if the cleansing Christ offers is not removing temptations and triggers, but rather to offer the strength and grace to avoid acting out even amid such circumstances. This would be a harder outcome for the addict, but one which offered the chance to build strength and character to bring to all of life's experiences.

I don't know what the real answer is, but I am beginning to wonder if Christ has answered my prayers to be healed and I just haven't recognized the answers.

Heavenly Jesus, I am sick with addiction and need you to cleanse me.

Lord, if you choose, you can make me clean.