"I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever" - Psalm 86:12 (NIV).
The story is told that once Jesus met ten lepers. They had been bitten with one of the most feared disease around- an infection caused by a slow-growing bacteria. Left untreated (and there was no cure then) leprosy could end up affecting the nerves, skin, eyes, nose; leaving one all bent and mangled up. In those days a leper had to be isolated for fear of infecting the healthy. One can therefore imagine the weight these lepers were carrying.
Now, when these ten men met Jesus, of course, "They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed' (Luke 17: 12-14).
After that a strange thing happened, though it is not that unusual. "One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan" (vv 15-16). This was some movie. So, "Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well" (vv 17 -19).
How strange! Maybe the other nine men were too ectastic to think of returning back to thank Jesus! The weight finally taken off their back, they couldn't pause to acknowledge and thank the one who had led to their healing. Bigger things on their mind. But that just doesn't sell! Let's imagine one was infected again, so then, what is the next move...having long forgotten your once deliverer!
This simple story teaches us to be ever grateful. Let us never tire to be grateful in all walks of life but mostly for the good things the Lord has done for us!
Prayer for today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, today I thank you for the gift of salvation and all the blessings upon my life, that I may ever be grateful to you, this I pray in Jesus's name.
Related upcoming events
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20/04/2024 - 21/04/2024 All day“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong” (1 Cor 16:13)
Tourists who happen to visit Bukingham palace will be expected to notice the King’s royal guards. Dressed in colorful often red uniforms and adorning tall black helmets they stand on guard and no one dare cross them. Elsewhere in life we find guards in all manner of places quite firm on deterring any intruder wherever they may be.
For us Believers being on constant guard is a calling we must permanently observe. And why? Once in the course of his work, “Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns” (Mathew 16:23). Peter had just protested that he would not deny Jesus only to be sported out!
There is something for us to note here. Satan had penetrated the ranks of Jesus and was going through his closest disciple. It is clear that Peter was not even aware that he was being used. Anyway, he found his target, Jesus, was on guard. Immediately Satan was sent packing.
No Believer is immune to attacks from Satan. After all when once the Lord asked Satan his whereabouts: “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it” (Job 1:7). Clearly the guy is out there 24/7 looking for whom to devour. “Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (I Peter 5:8).
Prayer today: Lord Father God of Abraham, maker of heaven and earth, as you have warned us to be on “guard” help me ever to be on the watch out for the attacks of the enemy and with your word rebuke Satan, this I pray in Jesus’ name!
