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Mark 1:40-42
And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, ‘If you will, you can make me clean.’ Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, ‘I will; be clean.’ And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.
Additional Scripture References:
Hebrews 1, Heb 4:11-16 ESV, Luke 13:10-17
We often forget just how near God is to us through Jesus—how He sits with us in our pain, not apart from it. In our most broken moments, He doesn’t stay distant. Instead, He draws close, sometimes through the presence of another person willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with us. It’s there, in proximity, that His love, compassion, power, and mercy become deeply personal. Even when we feel covered in shame or guilt, He moves toward us and carries the residue of our pain as His own.
God is not an existential construct. He is a living, breathing God who desires closeness and relationship. He became the Word made flesh through Jesus Christ—present, active, and full of mercy. Shame is often the buffer we use to keep Jesus at a distance. But the truth is, it is not about how persistent we are, how well we perform, or how often we attend church. It is about proximity. The closer we come to Jesus, the more undone we become by His kindness.
In the time of Jesus, lepers were social outcasts—excluded physically, spiritually, and emotionally. But when the leper in Mark 1 approached Jesus, He didn’t heal from a distance. Jesus touched him first, while he was still unclean. He chose closeness over comfort, presence over protocol.
In a fast-paced, temptation-filled city, it’s easy to feel too far gone. But Jesus is always willing to come near. He reaches into the mess and says, “I am willing. Be clean.” He still meets us in our hidden pain. His love is personal. His compassion is close. His healing is always possible.
Jesus didn’t wait for the leper to clean himself up. He came close, touched what others avoided, and loved without conditions. This moment wasn’t just a miracle of healing; it was a revelation of God’s heart. The gospel tells us of a Holy God who became human, not to stand far off, but to step into our condition, to carry our shame, and to heal our hearts with His nearness. In every season, Jesus still chooses presence over performance. He still moves toward the broken, not away. If we let Him, He will meet us right where we are, not with judgment, but with healing. His holiness doesn't exclude us; it embraces us.
This week, don’t clean up before coming close. Come close and let Jesus do the healing. Proximity leads to transformation. Bring Him the real, raw, honest you.
As you reflect on Sunday’s message, here are some guided prayers and scriptures you can use over the next week. If you're looking for ways to grow deeper in this specific area, let these words cover, challenge, and encourage you along the way.
Prayer for Compassion Like Christ’s
Lord, give me eyes to see those who feel invisible, forgotten or unworthy. Let my life reflect the nearness of Your love.
“Be kind to one and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:32
Prayer for Identity Rooted in Christ
Jesus, remind me that I am not my mistakes, my past, or my shame. I am Yours. Let my identity be shaped by Your truth, not my fear.
“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that should be called children of God; and so we are.” – 1 John 3:1
Prayer for Courage to be Loved
Jesus, sometimes it’s easier to serve You than to sit with You. Teach me to receive Your love without earning it. Quiet the voice of shame and awaken my heart to trust again.
“We love because He first loved us.” – 1 John 4:19
Prayer for Stillness in God’s Presence
God, I often try to prove myself or perform for Your approval. But You simply want me to be with You. Help me slow down, be still, and remember that You are enough, and so am I, in You.
“In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.” – Isaiah 30:15
If someone in your Crew needs care, we want to come alongside you. Our Care Response Team is designed to equip you to walk with people in different seasons of their life.Our team is committed to celebrating life’s best moments with you and offering support through its hardest ones.We would love to come around you for the following life events:
+ Marriages
+ Births
+ Deaths
+ Hospitalizations/Illness
Please submit a request at vouschurch.com/requestcare
Saying yes to Jesus marks a brand new beginning. Baptism is your next step. It's how you go public with your faith and celebrate the new life God has given you. The past is behind you, and a fresh future is ahead. This is your moment. We are having baptisms this Sunday, July 27th, across all of our locations, and on the beach.
To sign up for baptisms, please click here.
This back-to-school season, we have the opportunity to show up for our city in a meaningful way. On Saturday, August 2, we’re hosting a Back to School Bash at the Samuel K. Johnson Youth Center, located inside Charles Hadley Park. It’s a chance to serve local families by distributing backpacks filled with school supplies and making sure every student feels seen, supported, and ready to start the year with confidence.
Donate - Fill backpacks for families in need for the school year. You can purchase supplies locally and bring to a VOUS Location or donate online.
Serve - Help host our annual Back To School Bash for families in our community — distribute backpacks, check-in guests, and serve our city during a morning of fun and games.
When: Saturday, August 2nd
Where: Samuel K. Johnson Youth Center
Address: 4900 NW 12th Ave, Miami, FL 33127
Team Rally: 10:20AM
Starting Sunday, August 3rd, we will be moving to brand new service times at all of our locations!
VOUS SoMi
10:00AM / 12:00PM / 6PM
VOUS City
10:00AM / 12:00PM / 6PM
VOUS Miami Gardens
8:30AM / 10:00AM / 12:00PM
VOUS Design District
8:30AM / 10:00AM / 12:00PM
The countdown is on! If you're ready to take your next step in ministry, leadership, or higher education, now is the time to apply. VOUS College application deadline is July 31st for both our degree-seeking and leadership programs. Don’t miss your chance to be part of a life-changing semester. Start your journey at vouscollege.com/apply.
VOUS SoMi
8:45AM / 10:30AM / 12:30PM / 6PM
VOUS City
10:30AM / 12:30PM / 6PM
VOUS Miami Gardens
8:45AM / 10:30AM / 12:30PM
VOUS Design District
10:30AM / 12:30PM
Church Online
10:30AM / 12:30PM / 5PM Español
Growth Track
After every service or join online at vouschurch.com/growthtrack
