I Will; Be Thou Clean

Daily Scripture Threshing for Today, Sunday, August 16, 2026

Today’s Text: Matthew 8:1–4

Key Verse: “And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.” — Matthew 8:3 (KJV)

Our life experience with men has a way of conditioning our approach to God. We have been faced with gross unwillingness of friends, foes and family, and we now doubt if anyone would ever be willing to do for us what we need for a change. The leper came to Jesus with a condition no human was willing to help or could help. Yet, even in his pain and isolation, there is a hidden faith that recognized Christ’s power: “Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.” His uncertainty was not about Jesus’ ability, but about His willingness. Jesus answered that question with both His touch and His words: “I will; be thou clean.”

Jesus did not recoil from the man’s uncleanness. He stretched out His hand and touched the one others would likely avoid. That touch reveals the compassionate heart of Christ: He is not intimidated by what has wounded, stained, weakened, or separated us. Our brokenness does not make Him unwilling to receive us; it is precisely why we must come humbly to Him.

There are times when we believe God can help others but quietly wonder whether He will help us. We may carry shame from sin, scars from failure, fear from sickness, grief from loss, or discouragement from long-standing struggles. But the voice of Jesus still speaks hope to those who come in faith: “I will.” He is willing to forgive, restore, cleanse, heal, and make new all who place themselves before Him.

The cleansing was immediate. What the leper could not change by himself, Christ changed by His authority. This does not mean every prayer is answered according to our timetable or expectation, but it assures us that Jesus is never powerless, indifferent, or distant. He responds to sincere faith with perfect wisdom, compassion, and grace.

Do not allow your condition, or others' disposition to keep you away from Christ. Bring Him the thing that makes you feel unclean, unworthy, afraid, depressed, overwhelmed, or beyond repair. Come as the leper came—with worship, humility, and confidence in His power. His mercy reaches farther than your failure, and His hand is still able to touch what no one else can touch or restore.

Action Steps: Today, bring your deepest need honestly before Jesus. Stop doubting His willingness because of your past, your pain, or the severity of your circumstance. Pray, “Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.” Receive His grace by faith, obey His Word, and testify through a changed life to the mercy He has shown you.

Quote for the Day: “No condition is too unclean for the touch of Christ, and no heart is too broken for the mercy of Christ.” — (Simon Olatunji #quotablequote)

Let Us Pray: Heavenly Father, thank You for the compassion of Jesus Christ, who is willing to touch and cleanse the places of my life that are broken, stained, and wounded. Forgive me for the times I have doubted Your willingness to help me. Give me the humility to come before You honestly and the faith to trust Your power completely. Touch every area of my life that needs Your healing, cleansing, restoration, and grace. Let Your mercy make me whole, and let my life become a testimony of Your loving power—in Jesus’s name, Amen.

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Thank you for threshing the Word with me today. For further study on this topic, please read: Psalm 51:7–10; Isaiah 1:18; Mark 1:40–42; Hebrews 4:14–16.

With love and prayers,

Simon Wale Olatunji, Ph.D.

Your Darling Bishop (DaBishop)

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