While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “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!” And immediately the leprosy left him. One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

–Luke 5:12-13, 17-20 (TNIV)

What a wonderful story here. Let the scene arise in your mind. Imagine you are the one who comes to Jesus, desperate for healing. Imagine he looks at you as you cry out to him for help. Hear him say to you, “I am willing!” If you do not think he can (or will) do this for you, then read the story of the paralytic and learn from it. Jesus may not heal you in the way you want, but he will heal you if you have faith to allow him. You don’t have to wait until you “go to heaven” to enjoy his healing touch. You can have it now. Why? Because he is alive and he loves you and wants the best for you. But he will not force himself on you. He will wait until you invite him to heal you in faith. Are you availing yourself of Christ’s wondrous healing power?