May 26, 2013

  Obey, Be Healed, Be Thankful !

Luke 17: 11 - 19

Luke

As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria.  As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!

He looked at them and said, "Go show yourselves to the priests."  And as they went, their leprosy disappeared.

One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, "Praise God, I'm healed!"  He fell face down on the ground at Jesus' feet, thanking him for what he had done.  This man was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, "Didn't I heal ten men?  Where are the other nine?  Does only this foreigner return to give glory to God?"  And Jesus said to the man, "Stand up and go.  Your faith has made you well."  

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Thoughts.....

Good morning!  It may be evening where you are, so good evening!  I forget that when the sun is shining in my eyes, the moon may have set in your part of the world.  Let's get started!

Jesus was traveling and reached the border between Galilee and Samaria.  He entered a village, but he doesn't say whether the village was in Galilee or Samaria.  However, since 10 lepers stood at a distance, crying out, we can perhaps conclude that they were in Samaria and he was in Galilee.  The Samaritans did not cross into Galilee due to religious beliefs and tensions. 

Interestingly, one of the 10 lepers cried out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"  The 'presumed' Samaritans were calling Jesus 'Master' and sought mercy from him.  For a community choosing to not be in the world of believers other than themselves, and who were ostracized for their beliefs, as well as having chosen to set themselves apart, word still got around that Jesus was coming their way and he could heal.  Regardless of their beliefs, they would stop at nothing to be healed.  Although we presume they stopped at the border. 

Going back to the thought of them calling him 'Master', have you called Jesus 'Master'?  Here were Samaritans of a different belief system calling Jesus 'Master'.  Were they just manipulating him to be healed?  He would have known.  Was it a norm for someone to call another 'Master'?  In some cultures, there is a tendency to perhaps call someone 'Mister', especially a younger child may refer to someone by that name, if they know not a name.  Yet, the Samaritans knew his name was Jesus.  Surely they weren't making him truly 'Master'.  Or were they?  Had they decided to accept him as 'Master'.  Could they have heard him or heard about him and be willing to receive him as such?  What about you?  Are you willing to receive Jesus as 'Master' of your life?  Have you already called him 'Master', yet not made him 'Master'?  Lord?   

In the next paragraph we learn Jesus looked at them and said, "Go show yourselves to the priests."  And as they went, their leprosy disappeared (!).  Now that's pretty remarkable.  Was it that he looked at them?  Did he send a silent prayer to God to heal them?  Did his inner Spirit just deem it so?  Did Holy Spirit intervene?  Was their belief that he could heal them enough to heal them?  Their act of obeying him...heading in the direction to do what he told them to do....enough?  What do you think?

Then we learn that one of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, "Praise God, I'm healed!"  The man fell face down on the ground at Jesus' feet, thanking him for what he had done.  And then we learn he was indeed a Samaritan.  Samaritans did not go to the Jews for anything believing themselves, as I said before, set apart in their belief system.  They believed they were actually set above the Jews.  And here was Jesus.  A Jewish healer.  THE Messiah.  But did they recognize him as THE Messiah?  Do you?  Would their healing give them enough belief to make Jesus LORD of their life?  Truly 'Master'?  Would it be enough for you?  How profusely, with much passion, praise, and gratitude, the Samaritan expressed his thanks to God for his healing!  For giving him a new life essentially.  The Samaritan thanked Jesus for what he had done.  Have you praised God and thanked Jesus for what they has done in your life? 

In answer to questions above, we read Jesus healed the 10 lepers.  Jesus said, "Didn't I heal ten men?"  He did not say, "Oh, you don't belong to my church."  Or, "You are one of THEM".  He did not make a judgment, he did not ostracize from 'his group'.  He did not even ask if they would believe in him and follow him first.  He just saw people who needed healing, so he healed them.  Ipso facto in legal terms....'the fact IS'.  The man, Jesus, was full of empathy and compassion.  He feels the same for you.  Right now....here in this moment and time.  Today....he awaits your call.  Will you call out to him today?  He so wants to heal you.  Will you let him? 

And then Jesus said, "Where are the other nine?  Does only this foreigner return to give glory to God?"

Have you considered all God has done in your life?  Have you thanked him lately?  I mean really thanked him.  You may not be 'into' giving thanks.  You may not be at the point where you feel so much gratitude to give praise.  But it is not necessary to feel.  It is necessary to praise.  And you need to be 'into' giving thanks, if you are going to literally rise above this life.

Have you ever given things or done things for others over and over and not felt that they appreciated you?  What was your course of action at that point?  You probably walked away.  Weaned yourself from the relationship.  Are you prepared to have God, Jesus, Holy Spirit walk out of your life?  Oh, you say they are not in your life right now?  How do you know that?  Because you are not happy with your life?  Have you been asking them what you should do to live your life....to the fullest....for them, so they can work in your life?  Have you even asked them into your life, so they can work with you to help you?  Or are you one of the folks who thinks they can do everything themselves, and that they have all the answers?  I can assure you, if you think you are in the world alone, without help, without the option of a future, and believe you have all the answers, you are mistaken....sadly, I say this. 

God created you.  God will forgive your sins, IF you ask....maybe.  If you don't have a reprobate mind, that is.  Jesus died for you that you may have eternal life.  Holy Spirit is alive for you waiting for you to say 'Come', so he can comfort you, teach you and guide you into all truths, to set you free and to help you have an abundant life.  Whatever are you waiting for?  I promise you, hell will NOT freeze over.

Now is the time to consider all God has done for you so far and thank him for it.  Now is the time to consider what Jesus has done for you and thank him for it all, also.  And, now is the time to consider all Holy Spirit has tried to do for you, and thank him for it.  They stand at the door, will you knock?  They will be thrilled to let you in.  Even more thrilled that they will be asked to enter your heart, your mind, your life and make it whole.  Yes, by their standards.  A higher standard than anyone else's.  A loftier life of goals to reach.  Offering you a Kingdom to abide within.  Arms to hold you, and uplift you. 

IF your life could use improvement, seek God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit.  If you already have asked them into your life and your life is not all it should be by their standards, turn to them seeking the right steps.  There is a left fork in the road and a right fork in the road of life.  Invariably, even I take the wrong fork in the road sometimes, because, tho' I may ask, I don't wait for the answers, or I press on thinking I am doing the right thing, when it is only the right thing based on what I know at the time, not what God, Jesus, Holy Spirit know and can show me for ALL time.

So, though you may be devout in your faith, strengthened daily by reading the word, if you don't listen for their wee small....otherwise known as gentle....voices (which, by the way, I ask for them to yell at times), then you can still be caught short....found without, get lost, make a wrong turn, appear on the wrong road, etc.  You will then be less likely to look at the positive, will probably consider only the negatives, and not thank God, nor praise him, for getting you safely through whatever.  You will be less likely to give him glory.  However, you still need praise and give thanks, because it still could have been a LOT worse.  You got to the middle ground, or the ground, while he wanted to take you to higher ground, but you at least did lose ground entirely.  Praise him on whatever ground you find yourself now.  Praise him and thank him a LOT.

This reference is so true in the life of the Lord.  In every church there is a core group who love the Lord with all their heart and choose to serve with humbleness of heart and devotion.  They will be the prayers, movers and shakers.  Then there are the whole rest of the church goers who go on Sundays to MAYBE listen, more likely it is a form of showing others they are showing up, or to socialize.  Folks SHOULD be there to socialize with God, Jesus, Holy Spirit.  They SHOULD be there to worship them.  To give THEM thanks and praise.  If they go. 

If you are intent on seeking to learn more about what God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit, want to know about their truths, their ways, I am thrilled to have you worship and grow....so are they.  But don't hide out.  Find fellowship near you, if you can, and share yourself with others, the part that is God, Jesus, Holy Spirit within you.  Believe in the fullness of your heart that they want to heal you, your life, your situation, your finances, your relationships, even others around you.  Then Jesus will be able to say to you, as he said to the Samaritan that day, "Stand up and go. Your faith has made you well." 

Abide in them....let them abide in you.  And praise God!  Give thanks!  Sing ALLELUIA!

Al le lu ia....Al le lu ia....Al le lu ia....Al le luuuu uuu uu ia.  Praise you, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit!  And thank you, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit for and in (in the midst of) everything!  Amen!   

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Let Us Pray

Dear Heavenly Father God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I just praise you and thank you.  May you receive all glory and honor for the goodness and good things in my life, most importantly for creating me, God; living and dying for me, and being willing to live again, Jesus, that I, too, may have eternal life; and Holy Spirit, for the abundant life in and with you that you continually try to show me and give me.  I have not loved you with my whole heart, nor have I always loved my neighbor as myself.  I humbly repent and ask your forgiveness, knowing that if I do, you will indeed forgive me and make me whole.  Thank you, I praise you!  All too often I consider what I have not achieved, or that where I am is not where I am 'supposed' to be, when in reality, I could be a lot worse off, if you were not in my life.  And I shudder to consider that thought.  And I might be right where you want me to teach me new things, so that I may grow and prepare for the rest of the journey.  Thank you so much for putting up with me and being willing to continually guide me on the right path for YOU, as in 'your name's sake', rather than mine.  Only then will I truly be free, know true happiness, and revel in bringing you glory, by how I live, work, play and have my being....while worshiping you, Almighty, Savior, Counselor.  Praise, love and joy will emit from me naturally....although it already does....it will exude, so as to not ever mistake who YOU are, that YOU are, and how wonderful YOU are.....and that you abide fully in my life....and can also abide in others the same.  Oh, Father God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, I so wish to show the world you live and reign and can be everything to others that you are to me.  Help me, please.  Open the hearts and minds of those seeking you to find this site, and others like this one, and open doors to churches through people like myself, so others will want what I have with you....even more.  Though you have never left my side, my heart, my arms, since I was a child, when you first came to me and spoke the words you would be with me for all time, I, Lord, have not always turned to you or heard you when you tried to speak to me.  Nor have I always obeyed you following the path set before me.  Forgive me, please.  Help me to have less chaos, so that I may always hear you, feel you, learn to fully know you and choose to obey you.  I do love you, now help me to show you that I love you.  Tell me how I can show you that I love you.  Speak up....my listening skills are not perfected yet....would you heal that by the way?  Start with my heart, because my ears work just fine.  Then go to my mind, if you would.  Teach my arms to reach for you and embrace you....as you have reached out for me and embraced me over my life, whether I've known it or not.  I do love you.  And I do thank you and give you praise!  Never ever let me go.....please.  Let us carry out the Blessing Plan together.  I do and will enjoy your grace and mercy!  Praise you!  Thank you!  I love you!  Alleluia!  Amen!   

I am standing up.  I am going....I am walking in faith.  I am healed!  Praise God!  Thank you, God!  Alleluia!  Amen!    

To God goes all the glory!  Amen!

THANK YOU, GOD!

Dear God,

I want to thank You for what you have already done.

I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards;

I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better;

I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me;

I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears;

I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves;

I am going to thank you right now.

I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet;

I am going to thank you right now.

I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job;

I am going to thank you right now.

I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief;

I am thanking you right now.

I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed;

I am thanking you right now.

I am thanking you because I am alive.

I am thanking you because I made it through the days difficulties.

I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles.

I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better. 

I'm thanking you because, Father, You haven't given up on me. 

Amen.

Anonymous

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    One last thing....

 Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving

'The Unforced Rhythms of Grace'

"Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer:  "Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth.  You've concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people.  Yes, Father, that's the way you like to work."

Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly.  "The Father has given me all these things to do and say.  This is a unique Father - Son operation, coming out of Father and Son intimacies and knowledge.  No one knows the Son the way the Father does, nor the Father the way the Son does.  But I'm not keeping it to myself; I'm ready to go over it line by line with anyone willing to listen."

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   Matthew 11:  25-30

  The Message

And the people said,

"Amen."

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I now write most prayers in the position of ' I ' (first person) because most people are sitting at their computer alone, not in groups, and it allows those reading and praying to personalize the prayer as coming from them going to God.  Variations may appear on holidays when families may wish to use the prayer provided.  I encourage you to pray your own prayers as well.

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