You are currently browsing the tag archive for the ‘Thanksgiving’ tag.
As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” Luke 17:12-13
In Jesus’ day, leprosy was a terrible disease. While it is treatable today, during Biblical times it was a slow moving and eventually fatal disease. Small skin lesions would begin to eat away at fingers, toes and facial features and in later stages destroy the nervous system and lead to death.
While the physical disease was horrific, it may have been the emotional and spiritual part of the disease that was more painful to endure. Since there was no cure for leprosy and it was considered highly contagious. When a person was diagnosed with leprosy they were sent away from society so that the people would be spared. The leper was required to let his hair grow long, wear torn clothes, cover he lower part of his face and call out “Unclean! Unclean!” when a person without leprosy approached.
Often lepers would live alone or in colonies just outside the city wall. Imagine being a spouse or a child and only get to see your father from a distance. Imagine the emotional heartache and the financial burden that would be placed on the family because ‘daddy can’t live at home anymore.’
But it gets worse! Not only did society reject and isolate the leper, the church did too! Leprosy was considered a symbol of sin. Therefore if a person got leprosy it was assumed that the person (and perhaps the family) had sin in their lives. As a result, the family of a leper was under just as much suspicion as the leper when it came to sin.
When the ten lepers in Luke 17 saw Jesus they approached him as far as was appropriate and begged for mercy. They knew their need for healing and they had no doubt heard about this itinerant preacher who healed people everywhere he went.
The lesson each of us can learn from the ten lepers is that we all have a tremendous need for Jesus. We all have sin in our lives that keep us from a relationship with God. We all have a fatal disease called ‘being human’ that will eventually lead to death. The death rate among humans is 100%.
The advantage we have over the lepers is that we can hide most of our sin if we choose. People who are addicted to drugs and alcohol, pornography, anger/abuse and other ‘diseases of the soul’ have done quite well at covering up the secret lives they live. However, God sees through the façade. He isn’t fooled by religious activity or many words of assurance. Like the leper, our private lives are wide open to God.
I’m thankful today that I don’t have to hide behind all sorts of masks and disguises. I’m thankful that Jesus sees my faults as clearly as he saw the leperous sores on the men he came across that day and accepts me as I am with all my faults.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus like the leper, I have a disease. I can hide it from others but I know I can’t hide if from you. Thank you that even though you know my weakness, you love me just the same. Thank you that because of your forgiveness I don’t have to call out “Unclean! Unclean!” Amen
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)
“Don’t worry!” Two little words that are so easy to say, an action that is so hard, sometimes impossible to do. Sometimes people will tell us ‘don’t worry’ when they have no idea how much pain we are in. Sometimes people will say ‘don’t worry’ and make us feel like our worrying is some terrible sin that questions God’s desire or ability to intervene.
Sometimes we worry about things that don’t matter. Sometimes worry cripples our ability to think clearly or to act wisely. Sometimes we worry about things that are way beyond our control, which frankly, is a waste of time because it doesn’t change anything.
Paul wrote these words of advice to the church in Philippi. This was the small town where Paul and Silas were put in prison for preaching about Jesus. It was cold, dark, damp and no doubt smelly because ancient prisons had no ‘official’ bathroom facilities or showers.
In the midst of all this Paul and Silas sang praises to God! Then an earthquake hit and Paul and Silas were not only set free but had opportunity to lead the jail keeper and his entire family to Jesus. In the midst of calamity and injustice and danger and fear, Paul practiced what he preached!
There is on little phrase in these verses that gives much hope and relief, “pray about everything”. This little phrase reminds us that there is nothing too small to bring to our Heavenly Father. When we were growing up and exploring life we’d bring the smallest leaf, stones and sticks and all sorts of other things to our parents in excitement of what we’d found. In the same way we can come to our Father.
There is nothing to overwhelming to bring to the Father as well. It may be overwhelming to us because we don’t know the facts, we don’t know the future and we see no solution. But our Father in Heaven knows the facts, the solution and how it will all work out in the end.
Sometimes we worry because the situation we are in is a result of our own doing. We are afraid that God will say, “That’s it. That’s the last straw. How many times have I told you not to do that? Well, not this time buster. You are on your own this time.” God will never, ever abandon us. We fail. We fall. We rebel. But we can always come home to the Father for forgiveness.
Spend time today talking with God. Tell him all your concerns, big, small, and insignificant. Ask forgiveness for the things you need forgiveness for and believe you are forgiven. And most of all focus you mind on that fact that God loves you. Spend time thinking of all the blessings He’s bestowed upon you. When we tell Him all our struggles He will work to bring us peace beyond belief.
PRAYER: Holy Father, I thank You today for your love and forgiveness. I praise you for the fact that although you are creator and sustainer of the entire universe you aren’t too big or powerful or important to kneel beside me as a small child with a scuffed knee. There is nothing I can do to separate me from your love. Help me to give all my worries to you today. Amen.
Mike Fisk & Built with Grace 