Matt 8

Healing the Leper
Matt 8:1-3, "When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean." Jesus reached out his hand hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy."

Healing the Centurion's Servant
Matt 8:5-7, "When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. "Lord," he said, "My servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly." Jesus said to him. "Shall I come and heal him?"

Like the Leper we know God can, but we question if He will. And His answer is always, "Yes, I am willing." Most Christian's don't doubt God's ability to act on their behalf they just question His willingness to do so.

Also, what was the greater miracle? Jesus healing the leper or him touching the leper?

The next story following this one in Matthew's Gospel has Jesus asking the question, "Shall I come and heal him?" Indeed He is very willing....even to the point of asking us, "Do you want My help?" He is waiting to be asked.

Matt 7, Transference

Matt 7:9-11 "Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

Jesus is addressing prayer in these verses but He is also addressing what kind of father we believe God to be. Is He good? Does He have my best interest in mind? Does God like me? And Christ answers, "Yes, Yes, Yes, you can trust your Heavenly Father."

Often times in moments of crises our subconscious thoughts about God come out. I know mine do. We may feel like telling God off because we think He hasn't treated us right or He hasn't fulfilled our expectations of what He should do or what He should be like. But in these verses Jesus addresses our view of God. God is not out to screw with us. God is out to Free us. He is looking out for our best interests.