Gratitude and Devotion

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JESUS SPEAKING

Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So, when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was, that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So, Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.” (Matthew 17: 11 – 19)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

Leprosy was a highly contagious disease that condemned the infected to live in isolation and despair. As a group of ten lepers stood afar off, they begged Jesus to heal them. In response, He sent them to the priests to be examined and considered fit to rejoin society. As they journeyed they were healed. Although all ten had been restored, only one man returned to praise and honor Jesus; revealing that he alone had undergone an inward transformation as well.

Concerning gratitude, there is another account in the gospels of a man named ‘Bartimaeus.’ From what we know, he was a blind beggar who, upon hearing that Jesus was near, cried out to Him. Having been called forward, he begged Jesus to restore his vision. Jesus responded saying, “Go your way, your faith has made you well.” He was immediately healed and received his sight. Overwhelmed with gratitude and joy he began following Jesus along the road.

Those who have been healed and transformed by God will return to honor Him with gratitude and thanksgiving. Genuine faith will also produce a devotion to following Jesus wherever He leads. Practically, we can honor Him through our praise, worship, and expressions of thankfulness. By means of His power may we always hold Him close.

“Lord Heavenly Father, we are eternally grateful for Your healing and restoration. May we be filled with joy overflowing, as we praise and honor You in all things. Give us the strength to follow You wherever it is You are leading us. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus name, amen.” God bless all of you!

Being Liked

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JESUS SPEAKING

“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” (John 15: 18 – 20)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

The desire to be liked is a powerful human instinct which can often interfere with honest evangelism. Although we are called to accomplish good works and to love others, our kind deeds must also include the gospel message. The gospel is a wonderful gift to mankind, and yet it is also divisive, exclusionary, and confrontational. For instance, Jesus is the only way to God; thus revealing that all other religions are false. Also, refusing to accept the faith will result in eternal punishment. For these reasons alone, any messenger of the gospel will be hated by many.

I was recently summoned to the bedside of a woman dying of cancer. Despite numerous years of defiance, in that moment she received Jesus Christ and was baptized with a wet washcloth. She died the next day. Shortly thereafter, I was asked to speak at her funeral; which I agreed to do. Upon arriving at the home for the ceremony, I began casually speaking with her relatives, friends and acquaintances. Most of them were very pleasant; shaking my hand and treating me with a measure of affection. They were open and expressive; they genuinely seemed to like me. When it came time to speak I didn’t hold back. I described how this woman had gotten saved, and that she wasn’t dead, but alive in Christ. I then presented everyone in attendance with the gospel message. I explained how they too needed to receive Christ and be reborn if they were to have a future with her in God’s kingdom. I then announced that after the service I would be available for anyone who desired to receive Christ as she had done. I informed them that I had bibles to hand out to whomever might want one. After the service concluded, the room became remarkably silent. Most refrained from making eye contact with me. No one approached me to inquire about being saved, and their previous affections for me had vanished; their warmth had turned cold (with several exceptions.) I lingered for a while, speaking with individuals here and there; I was even able to hand out a few bibles. Still, this cold reaction wasn’t entirely unexpected. If I had possessed an overwhelming desire to be liked, I could have easily altered the message; making it more palatable and less convicting. But then it would have become something other than the gospel truth.

As we journey through this life we must maintain our commitment to preaching the gospel; unaltered and unchanged. The message is not ours, but God’s alone. We are not the authors of truth; but rather, we are charged with delivering it to others. May we never allow our desire to be liked to interfere with our allegiance to Christ, and our commitment to the truth.

“Lord Heavenly Father, give us the strength and courage to spread Your message of salvation to all those who are walking in darkness. May we remain committed to preaching the whole gospel. Grant us strength in times of persecution and unrest; that our affections for You may remain steadfast. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!

Thirsty

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JESUS SPEAKING

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (John 7: 37 – 39)

FAITHFUL THOUGHTS

Within every human being there is a void that only God can fill. All those who thirst for the truth are drawn to Christ, and the Holy Spirit is poured out into the hearts of those who believe. We read that out of them, “will flow rivers of living water.” Once the heart is full, the Spirit will continue to overflow and pour into the hearts of others. Thus being filled is not enough, we must also overflow.

Recently, at a bible study a man discussed his fear of eventually becoming stagnant in his faith. I responded by explaining how to avoid stagnation. I told him that the Dead Sea in Israel is dead because it has no outlet. The Jordan river flows into the Dead Sea; a body of water positioned at one of the lowest elevations on earth. With no outlets, the water can only escape through evaporation; leaving behind salt, which has accumulated over time. This contamination has rendered the sea unfit for most living creatures. Without any overflow, there is only death.

Unlike the Dead Sea, the Holy Spirit spills into the hearts of those who believe, but it doesn’t remain stagnant. Instead, it overflows, pouring outward into the lives of others. We are therefore vessels through which the Holy Spirit can move. May we offer ourselves to Your service Lord, as You draw in all those who are thirsty.

“Lord Heavenly Father, we desire to be used to accomplish Your will. Fill us to overflowing with Your Holy Spirit, that others may come to know Your salvation through faith. You Truly are an awesome and amazing God. We love You Father, we praise You, and we thank You, and we ask and pray all of these things, according to Your will, in Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.” God bless all of you!