Re: Verse reading – Psalm 103, Luke 17:11-19 (day six)
“Go show yourselves to the priests.” (Luke 17:14)
God is patient. Thank God! Those of us who fail Him need this good news. The 10 Leper story proves the point. Even after months of Jewish resistance, Jesus is STILL SEEKING for ways to communicate His message in ways that Jews could understand and accept. He is bending over backwards. In compliance with Leviticus 14:1-32, Jesus sends the soon-to-be-healed men to the priests whose assignment was to certify actual cases of healing. Jesus hoped the priests would see the miracle and tell the story. It was not to be. Neither the Jewish lepers nor the Jewish nation were willing to imagine a God different from their prejudices. Strange, noted Jesus, that the Samaritan who had no training or history with scripture was more responsive to truth than those who had “grown up with it”. Sad. Sometimes to have truth too long is to take it for granted. Us?
Do you believe…
Re: Verse reading–Psalm 103, Luke 17:11-19 (day five)
Do you believe that Jesus was the most “joy-filled” person who ever walked this planet? Do we want to have that kind of “joy-filled” life? If the answers are yes, then we must look at how He lived and what He taught. It’s really what we’ve been doing all summer- studying the hows and whats. Jesus certainly taught about thanksgiving and gratitude (Luke 17). And He faithfully practiced it (Last supper, feeding of 5,000, raising of Lazarus, and many more times) There is a connection to a thankful heart and joy-filled life. We need look no further than our Lord for proof and practice. I read this week that Thanksgiving is a “confession of blessings”. This practice causes us to remember (past), rejoice (present), and regain an eternal perspective (look to the future).
A Life of Gratefulness
Re: Verse reading–Psalm 103, Luke 17:11-19 (day four) The psalmist is grateful to God for His bountiful blessing. Verse 11 says, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving kindness toward those who fear Him.” David is expressing gratefulness for God’s mercy and forgiveness of sin. When did God forgive our sin? It was at Calvary…many years after David wrote these words. David was expressing gratefulness for God’s promise of forgiveness as if it had already happened. David understood an important truth…God’s promises are sure! We too can count on God’s promises, just as if they had already occurred. We can give thanks for the hope He has given us…we can give thanks for the promise that He will never leave us or forsake us…we can give thanks for the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. God’s promises go on and on. With so much to be grateful for, we can spend the rest of our lives praising and thanking God.
Dust
Re: Verse reading–Psalm 103, Luke 17:11-19 (day three)
“He remembers that we are dust.” A person who does not express gratitude, who understands no need for thanksgiving, is a person who forgets that he is dependent. He is dependent on the mercy of others in order to live his daily life. And finally, he is dependent on God, who has made him. We chafe against this dependence. We consider it beneath us. But this life will end because we are indeed dust. How will we not be taken by surprise at this inevitable fate? By practicing thanksgiving. Gratitude will form us into people who will meet the end of these days with joy for the days that await us beyond. Thankfulness, therefore, is not just polite. It is life-giving.
Praise, Praise, Praise!
Re: Verse reading–Psalm 103, Luke 17:11-19 (day two)
Isn’t it a privilege to read the Word? The text from Psalm 103 washes over you like a comforting blanket. These words not only give reassurance, but also reminds us of the Lord’s provision and strength. Look at the many promises and words of action listed in this song: benefits, forgives, heals, redeems, crowns, love, compassion, satisfies, renews, justice, compassionate, gracious, removes transgressions, and righteousness. This is the kind of God we serve. This kind of comfort is available to those who seek after his heart. Re-read this text, gain strength from these promises, and then return all the praise that is due a God that is so good.
Nine out of ten
Re: Verse reading – Psalm 103; Luke 17:11-19 (day one)
“Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:18)
The numbers tell a story. Ten lepers experience a miracle. Nine of them rush back to their lives and families without feeling ANY OBLIGATION to express thanks or seek a relationship with God. The gift, not the giver, is what they wanted. His hand, but not “His face” the Bible describes it in another place. Strangely, the one who DOES perceive the duty/opportunity to go back and connect with God is a Samaritan! In this story at least, the more blessed you are the more likely to take God’s grace for granted. God has simple expectations. “The kindness of God leads you to repentance.” (Romans 2:4) Those who receive His help should turn to Him in gratitude and worship. Nine out of ten times, however, it doesn’t work.
Enter into the joy
Re: Verse reading – Deuteronomy 8:10-18; Matthew 25:14-30 (day seven)
“Well done, good and faithful slave; you were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your Master.” (Matthew 25:23) Who is the most joyful person you know? Is she/he active in serving others or caught up in the pursuit of leisure and self? I think I know the answer. When Jesus described the life of service to God and others, He did so in terms of joy. Not burden. Joy! Not the kind that enters into me (“I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart!”) but rather a joy that I enter into by the surrender of life to the purposes of God. We were made for good works. (Ephesians 2:10) So,it makes sense to me that one of the rewards of working with/for God is a deep satisfaction. Don’t delay! Find a place of service! Joy will come.
More or less?
Re: Verse reading – Deuteronomy 8:10-18; Matthew 25:14-30 (day six)
“For to everyone who has, more shall be given. . .but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.” (Matthew 25:29)
New Testament scholars call it “the law of spiritual capital”. If we have a job (and do it), we will be offered more jobs. If we have a gift (and use it), more opportunities will come. It is no conspiracy that 80% of the work is always done by 20% of the people. Jesus says that this is just the way things work! The reverse is true for those who do not have jobs (almost certainly because they have ignored or refused the obvious opportunities. . .”I am busy”, “I don’t feel qualified”) or if we do not do the job already ours then, eventually, the opportunities will stop coming. God-given gifts atrophy when unused. God does not waste grace. Which will it be for you? More or less?
Starting with Nothing
Re: Verse reading–Deuteronomy 8:10-18; Matthew 25:14-30 (day five)
14 “For it is just like a man about to go on a journey, who called his own slaves and entrusted his possessions to them.” In this parable what can the slaves call their own? What do they actually begin with? Nothing. They are slaves. They depend on the master for food, clothing, shelter, and provisions. Then he gives them “talents”. It’s a humble place to start, but I believe that it leads to an insightful perspective. Psalm 24:1 “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it”.
I read this week in an article “the more you own, the less freedom you have.” It made me pause and think. I wonder however, if these passages might change our perspective of the Lord and ourselves. What about this: The more we “steward” the more freedom (and joy) we gain. Something to think and pray about.
Deflecting the Praise
Re: Verse reading- Deuteronomy 8:10-18; Matthew 25:14-30 (day four)
We all enjoy the praise of others…probably way too much. One of the character qualities we have taught our children is to ‘deflect the praise’. Deflecting the praise requires humility. When praised, our response should be to immediately remember those who have invested in us to enable us to accomplish that deed and then to acknowledge it openly…It may be financial provision, or a teacher who taught us the skills, or parents who sacrificially provided for us to have the opportunity to learn. Deflecting the praise to others not only recognizes their contribution, but it reminds us of God’s provision in our lives. Humility replaces pride. “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” (James 4:6) God, in His Sovereignty, has given us talents, promises, skills, and opportunity. May we never forget the source of our blessing!