Afflicted with his fatal and incurable disease, this poor leper comes to the only Physician who is able to help him, to our omnipotent and merciful Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. And he comes in the right way, in humble, submissive faith. He does not insist on a cure from his malady, but gives himself entirely into his Savior's hands, ready to suffer his terrible affliction to the end of his life if it be the Lord's will. Such humble, submissive faith always finds acceptance with the Lord. He grants the prayer of the poor suppliant and cures him, thereby revealing Himself as the promised Redeemer, come to save His people from their sins.

By nature we are all afflicted with the fatal and incurable malady of sin. No human power can save us from it. Could our zeal no respite know, Could our tears forever flow, All for sin could not atone, Christ must save us, He alone. And He has saved us, God be praised, - has saved us by the sacrifice of His all-atoning and divine blood. Now we can sing with grateful hearts:

"There is a fountain filled with blood,
Drawn from Immanuel's veins,
And sinners plunged beneath that flood
Lose all their guilty stains."

But is our faith like that of this poor leper here? Are we willing to give ourselves entirely into our blessed Savior's hands when suffering some great sorrow or even when afflicted with an incurable disease? Let us guard against all self-will, all impatience, though the night of our sorrow be dark and long. As long as Jesus is with us and we can pray to Him, all is well with us. He will not let us suffer one whit more nor one minute longer than is necessary for our temporal and eternal happiness. He loves us and wants to save us. What more can we ask?

[devotion text by Rev. F. W. Herzberger (1920) -
from the Family Altar - CPH (1957 edition)]
read preface from book (opens in a new window)