Simon the Leper
"While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper." (NIV).
Jesus dined at Simon the leper, evidently, he was a healed leper. I'd like to think a leper healed by Jesus. But he had to have been healed of his leprosy or he could not have been hosting a "party." Yet he was still known as "Simon the leper."
He was healed but once a leper always a leper
A leper's life was difficult not just because of the leprosy but maybe more so because leprosy was believed to be a curse from God. It was believed that a leper was a leper because of some heinous sin in their lives and they were under God’s judgment. But when Jesus heals He heals completely
Are we guilty of the same thing?
Once a drug addict, once an alcoholic, once an unwed mother, once an illegitimate child, once a divorcee…
He’s Simon the leper.
Once a liar, once a thief, once an adulterer… God forgives but we never forget.
We must receive all those who Jesus receives.
With the exception of…, if you can answer that go back to God and ask Him which of your sins he is still holding against you.
Debt Canceled
Back in August of 2019, Chase Bank did something for its Canadian credit cardholders that is unprecedented; it completely and utterly wiped their debt away! Isn’t that amazing?! Especially when you consider the fact that there had to be some customers that had maxed out their card.
Can you imagine what some felt like when they got the letter from the Chase Bank? Some may have thought it was the bank coming down hard on them, only to find out that their record had been cleared!
What would that feel like? Can you imagine it? It shouldn’t be hard for us to imagine, right? For we have, by faith, received the grace of God extended to us through the Lord Jesus Christ. By His sacrifice, we are completely and utterly forgiven. Our debt to a holy God has been completely wiped clean!
A Second Chance Isn't Always A Great Thing
Shayna Hubers thought she was getting a new shot at life when a judge overturned her conviction of murder and ordered a new trial after it was discovered that one of the jurors was a convicted felon, something Kentucky law doesn't allow. She had been convicted of murdering her boyfriend but claimed she shoot him 6 times in self-defense. The conviction came with a 40-year sentence.
At the second trial, she took the stand in her own defense, something she had not done the first time. However, there was video of her alone in an interrogation room dancing around and saying, "I did it, I did it." After deliberating only 5 hours, a jury of her peers found her guilty, again. Unfortunately, the recommendation from the jury was not 40 years, but LIFE!
She probably wishes this was a second chance she had never received.
What good is a second chance at justice if you're guilty? But isn't it good to know that God's idea of a second chance involves the complete forgiveness of our sins?
"Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, 'Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?' Jesus answered, 'I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times'" (Matthew 21:21-22).