LUKE: Posturepedic Heart - Luke 5:12-16

You ever go mattress shopping because your back hurts?
If you have—you know that you sit FIRMLY in adulthood. Because adults understand just how important posture is. But body posture isn’t the only posture—and its not even the most important. The Bible would speak to the disposition/attitude/posture of our heart towards God as being of the utmost importance:

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Heart Posture is important.
But what does it look like? We are given a picture of what a posturepedic heart looks like in Luke 5:13-16

The Leper (vs. 12)

12 While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.”

This leprous man shows us proper heart posture when he prostrates himself before Jesus and begs for help.
His situation couldn’t be worse—he was full of leprosy—and he knew Jesus was his only option.

• A posturpedic heart is poor in spirit knowing that there is no other option other than
Jesus.

He threw himself at Jesus feet in humble worship—understanding that Jesus was holy and worthy of it.

• A posturepedic heart is humble and worshipful, knowing that they bring nothing to the table.

He didn’t question whether or not Jesus is capable of healing him—he KNEW Jesus could.

• A posturepedic heart is full of faith, knowing that Jesus CAN heal—if He chooses to.

This is the heart we should have as well—this is good heart posture: poor in spirit, humble in worship, and full of faith.

The Savior (vs. 13-16)

13 And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him. 14 And he charged him to tell no one, but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” 15 But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. 16 But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

Equally—if not MORE important—than our heart posture towards God, is understanding His heart towards us. Jesus responds to this leprous man in a way that reveals God’s heart towards all sinners.
He touches this leprous man when He didn’t need to.

• God’s heart towards us is to be WITH us. He’s up close and personal—not distant. He doesn’t HAVE to heal—but He WANTS to.

• God’s heart towards us is WILLING to heal. He heals and helps—He’s not withholding.

He has power that matches His desire to save.

• God’s heart towards us is ABLE. He’s got power to heal, save, and forgive—He’s not powerless.

The Sinner (vs. 14)

14 And he charged him to tell no one, but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.”

By sending this man back into town to show the priests that he has been healed— Jesus is doing more than healing the man’s leprosy—He’s reconnecting him to life in community.

And He does the same thing for all who put their faith in Him. He heals us of our sin and connects us to life eternal. But that’s not all—He also connects us to the life of His Body—the Church.