skin-graft
"His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child." —2 Kings 5:14
We have all become spiritual lepers through sin. Many of us are ashamed of what we've done. Although we've asked for God's forgiveness, we don't feel forgiven, but "dirty" and defiled. The Lord wants not only to heal us but to restore our innocence. When God healed Naaman of leprosy, Naaman did not receive the skin of an adult, but "his flesh became again like the flesh of a little child" (2 Kgs 5:14).
Do you recall the innocence, delight, and carefree nature of childhood? God wants to give us a new, fresh, untarnished outlook on life. By His grace, we can "acquire a fresh, spiritual way of thinking" (Eph 4:23). We can recover our lost innocence by:
- forgiving those who have hurt us,
- repenting of our sins and going to Confession,
- asking others to pray over us for healing,
- washing in God's word (see Eph 5:26; Jn 15:3),
- praising and thanking the Lord, and
- fasting.
To sum up, we are purified by obeying the Lord. He will thoroughly wash us of our guilt and cleanse us of our sins (Ps 51:3-4).
Prayer: Father, purify me "from every defilement of flesh and spirit" (2 Cor 7:1) so I strive to fulfill my consecration perfectly.
Promise: "If we have died with Him we shall also live with Him; if we hold out to the end we shall also reign with Him." —2 Tm 2:11-12
Praise: Praise You, risen Jesus. You promise to give us not just life after death, but a glorious, completely new life. Alleluia!
Reference: (For a related teaching, order our leaflet, Obedience School, or our tape, Obeying God, on audio AV 62-3 or video V-62.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 6, 2010
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