Leprosy was and still is a devastating disease, one that separates you from society. Lepers are outcasts, people fear being near them, they suffer physically and emotionally every day. Imagine losing all of your day to day relationships, even the seemingly insignificant ones like the grocery clerk or bank teller. Imagine seeing fear in the eyes of everyone who sees you, feeling the rejection of people you know and those you don't know, to be unable to touch another human being for the rest of your life. Devastating and hopeless.
In Luke 17:11-19, Jesus encounters 10 lepers along the road to Jerusalem. This story is both extraordinary and sobering. These 10 men called to Jesus from a distance to have pity on them... to see their physical condition and restore them to wholeness.
Christ simply tells them to show themselves to the priest - he is the one man who can declare them cleansed so they can return to normal life. The remarkable sentence here is this one (v. 14), "And as they went, they were cleansed."
AS THEY WENT... they heard a simple command, they simply obeyed and as they obeyed they were cleansed! Absolutely amazing isn't it? That phrase struck me for the first time although I have read this account many times before.
Yet this isn't the most remarkable part... verse 15-16:
"One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan."
ONE.... one of them came back. One of them praised God. One of them threw himself at Jesus' feet. One of them thanked Him. ONE. Wow. Sobering.
Ten men followed Jesus' directive but only ONE acknowledged the life altering change that took place. The restoration of life, relationships, wholeness. Each one of those men was given physical life back.... physical life.
But ONE. One returned to Jesus, Who asked where the other nine were. Had this one man been the only one to return with gratitude and praise on his lips? Not only was he one man but he was a Samaritan man - a man despised by the Jews for his split nationality: a Jewish Gentile, unclean to the Jews.
This Samaritan man returned with a heart full of gratitude at the physical miracle his body had experienced and Christ healed him even deeper than that...
"Then He said to him, 'Rise and go; your faith has made you well.' ” (v. 19)
The ONE: he believed, he was grateful, he fell at Jesus' feet, he had faith and it made him well. He was whole again, completely whole, not just physically but spiritually as well. Spiritual life. Extraordinary.
There is the greater miracle... faith.
Hebrews 11: 1-2, 6 tells us, "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.... And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
Do I live my faith? Do I live a life of gratitude? Do I return to the feet of Jesus in humble, wholehearted worship and thankfulness when He heals? When He provides? When He restores?
In what ways am I like the nine lepers who took the good from Christ and never thought to say thank you? Who only thought of themselves?
In what areas do I need to repent because I have not acknowledged God's grace and mercy in my life?
How can I make gratitude an active practice of my living faith in Christ? Every single day?
Lord, enable me to be like the one who returned before he saw the priest to praise You with boldness, to fall at Your feet, to thank You... in ALL things, every moment of every day.
Showing posts with label thankfulness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thankfulness. Show all posts
Monday, January 24, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
One Thousand Gifts
Gratitude - thankfulness - joy.
I have been challenged to pursue these characteristics by a book I am reading. Currently I am barely at chapter 4 but I am challenged to make a list. Not just any list but a list that will cultivate an attitude of gratitude and thankfulness. A list that contains those things that bring joy and wonder from day to day, that reflect God and His creative genius, that inspire awe.
The lofty goal? To list one thousand gifts, everyday things that are gifts from God no matter how small or great. Day by day, one at a time, writing in a journal those things no matter how long it takes. No pressure, no limits, just opening my eyes to see all those things that bring joy and acknowledging them by putting them to paper as they capture my attention.
Here are a couple of things that are on my "One Thousand Gifts List":
1. the beauty of snow capped mountains
7. the sound of falling rain
9. my husband's heartbeat as I rest my head on his chest
16. a sky full of fluffy clouds
Would you like to join me? I believe that we may end up surpassing a thousand but let's not worry about that. Let's put one foot in front of the other and see where this journey takes us.
I have been challenged to pursue these characteristics by a book I am reading. Currently I am barely at chapter 4 but I am challenged to make a list. Not just any list but a list that will cultivate an attitude of gratitude and thankfulness. A list that contains those things that bring joy and wonder from day to day, that reflect God and His creative genius, that inspire awe.
The lofty goal? To list one thousand gifts, everyday things that are gifts from God no matter how small or great. Day by day, one at a time, writing in a journal those things no matter how long it takes. No pressure, no limits, just opening my eyes to see all those things that bring joy and acknowledging them by putting them to paper as they capture my attention.
Here are a couple of things that are on my "One Thousand Gifts List":
1. the beauty of snow capped mountains
7. the sound of falling rain
9. my husband's heartbeat as I rest my head on his chest
16. a sky full of fluffy clouds
Would you like to join me? I believe that we may end up surpassing a thousand but let's not worry about that. Let's put one foot in front of the other and see where this journey takes us.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
New Years = New Perspectives
It's another new year and everyone is asking... what is your New Year's resolution?
For some it's to lose weight (again), to finish a project (not accomplished since last New Year's), to be smarter, richer, kinder... more generous, philanthropic, successful... change strengths to weaknesses, failures to successes, losses to gains.
Resolutions are hard to nail down, hard to accomplish, hard to even remember at times... they are like that perpetual carrot before the horse; it may be driving us forward but never really satisfying us.
This year I have resolved not to have resolutions... I am determined not to choose that same goal and forget about it by March another year. Not that I have struggled with that ... or anything like it ... or... well you get what I'm saying.
In place of a resolution, I am working on a new perspective (or two or three). Lately a recurring theme has arisen in my life in the midst of a string of challenging set backs and frustrations. You know they say things happen in three's - don't believe them!{Maybe someday I'll list them so we can look back and laugh about it... someday}
Anyway, this string of things crippled me in a soul killing sort of way. As things kept happening, I began to struggle, cry, and crumble. My vision became clouded and dim, day to day my heart grew darker. One week I lashed out - I cried and vented - I surrendered hope and saw nothing but what was unlovely, unhappy, unsatisfying. One long week going where I hadn't been before, where I shouldn't have been. BUT GOD.
But God, in His unfailing mercy and longsuffering and infinite grace, patiently endured my sinful behavior then He began to whisper gracious words into my wicked heart - one small message at a time, each from a different source. Do you know what I am talking about? A quick comment by a Christian DJ on the radio, a line from a "randomly chosen" devotional, a shared thought by a friend who doesn't know where your heart is at, a song that cuts right to the point, a verse you've read a hundred times strikes a bullseye.
As I began to repent of my sin and the scales began to be removed from my sin blinded eyes, the theme that was woven through those messages so skillfully began to emerge clearly... gratefulness, thankfulness. Yes, being grateful no matter what the circumstance. Giving thanks in everything.
Yesterday I read in Job 2:10 these words, "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" Job spoke this AFTER he lost all of his livestock, servants and children. OK, my situation isn't nearly that bad and I had to search my heart with that question... Am I willing to accept good from God and not trouble?
First perspective that I need to renew and live out is trust in God's sovereignty in EVERYTHING.
Second perspective I need to practice and become proficient at is gratitude... true thankfulness in all situations, at all times (I Thessalonians 5:18).
Simply stated: If I can truly live out that first perspective change then the second one will easily follow because they go hand in hand. God is sovereign, I am His child; He's got me, my life, my family, my world firmly in His grip and I am grateful that the God of the universe is at the helm.
You see, God knows exactly what He is doing and how to perfectly work all things together for my good and His glory (Romans 8:28). The God Who spoke the heavens into place (Genesis 1)never sleeps nor slumbers (Psalm 121:3). I can trust His sovereignty and I am grateful.
For some it's to lose weight (again), to finish a project (not accomplished since last New Year's), to be smarter, richer, kinder... more generous, philanthropic, successful... change strengths to weaknesses, failures to successes, losses to gains.
Resolutions are hard to nail down, hard to accomplish, hard to even remember at times... they are like that perpetual carrot before the horse; it may be driving us forward but never really satisfying us.
This year I have resolved not to have resolutions... I am determined not to choose that same goal and forget about it by March another year. Not that I have struggled with that ... or anything like it ... or... well you get what I'm saying.
In place of a resolution, I am working on a new perspective (or two or three). Lately a recurring theme has arisen in my life in the midst of a string of challenging set backs and frustrations. You know they say things happen in three's - don't believe them!{Maybe someday I'll list them so we can look back and laugh about it... someday}
Anyway, this string of things crippled me in a soul killing sort of way. As things kept happening, I began to struggle, cry, and crumble. My vision became clouded and dim, day to day my heart grew darker. One week I lashed out - I cried and vented - I surrendered hope and saw nothing but what was unlovely, unhappy, unsatisfying. One long week going where I hadn't been before, where I shouldn't have been. BUT GOD.
But God, in His unfailing mercy and longsuffering and infinite grace, patiently endured my sinful behavior then He began to whisper gracious words into my wicked heart - one small message at a time, each from a different source. Do you know what I am talking about? A quick comment by a Christian DJ on the radio, a line from a "randomly chosen" devotional, a shared thought by a friend who doesn't know where your heart is at, a song that cuts right to the point, a verse you've read a hundred times strikes a bullseye.
As I began to repent of my sin and the scales began to be removed from my sin blinded eyes, the theme that was woven through those messages so skillfully began to emerge clearly... gratefulness, thankfulness. Yes, being grateful no matter what the circumstance. Giving thanks in everything.
Yesterday I read in Job 2:10 these words, "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" Job spoke this AFTER he lost all of his livestock, servants and children. OK, my situation isn't nearly that bad and I had to search my heart with that question... Am I willing to accept good from God and not trouble?
First perspective that I need to renew and live out is trust in God's sovereignty in EVERYTHING.
Second perspective I need to practice and become proficient at is gratitude... true thankfulness in all situations, at all times (I Thessalonians 5:18).
Simply stated: If I can truly live out that first perspective change then the second one will easily follow because they go hand in hand. God is sovereign, I am His child; He's got me, my life, my family, my world firmly in His grip and I am grateful that the God of the universe is at the helm.
You see, God knows exactly what He is doing and how to perfectly work all things together for my good and His glory (Romans 8:28). The God Who spoke the heavens into place (Genesis 1)never sleeps nor slumbers (Psalm 121:3). I can trust His sovereignty and I am grateful.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
An Informed Mind
Colossians 3:16-17
"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."
Today I was reminded yet again how important it is to have my mind informed by the Word of God. When someone asks me for advice or input, how quickly I am tempted to answer from my own opinion without taking the time to consider how it lines up with scripture. How easy it is to exalt my own opinion or the opinion of others in these situations.
If my mind is being informed and trained by the word of God, I will answer from God's Word and not my own. First opening the word and searching it for guidance to find those passages that will speak to the heart of the issue, providing a biblical principle to direct their path. Paul tells us in Colossians that we are to let the Word of God richly dwell within us, residing there. As the Word dwells in us we will be enabled to teach and admonish one another with all wisdom - not the world's wisdom but God's wisdom. I want that to be true of me, don't you?
"Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father."
Today I was reminded yet again how important it is to have my mind informed by the Word of God. When someone asks me for advice or input, how quickly I am tempted to answer from my own opinion without taking the time to consider how it lines up with scripture. How easy it is to exalt my own opinion or the opinion of others in these situations.
If my mind is being informed and trained by the word of God, I will answer from God's Word and not my own. First opening the word and searching it for guidance to find those passages that will speak to the heart of the issue, providing a biblical principle to direct their path. Paul tells us in Colossians that we are to let the Word of God richly dwell within us, residing there. As the Word dwells in us we will be enabled to teach and admonish one another with all wisdom - not the world's wisdom but God's wisdom. I want that to be true of me, don't you?
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