Gratitude
Luke 17:11-19
11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
As I was driving in this morning, I saw a car with GIVETHX on the license plate. I started humming the song by the same title (give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One...). It got me thinking about how I say thank you to the Father.
We've been hearing alot at Fellowship about doing things from the heart. Sunday school lessons, sermons and disciples studies of late have had a definite focus on sincerity and fellowship with the Father. We've talked about sincerity in action, sincerity in praise and worship, so I wasn't surprised when the Holy Spirit dropped a nugget about sincerity in thanks this morning.
I love this passage in Christ's walk. Ten people, all with the same issue take it to the Master for a change. All ten get their issue resolved but only one turns back to offer thanks. What's the result? The one was made whole. Everyone got healed, but this one was made whole.
Its sad sometimes how we'll enter into worship, do the works, go through the process of walking in faith, but we'll settle for the least amount of relationship. Salvation is good enough for far too many of us.
Don't get me wrong; salvation is AWESOME! But there's so much more available in this relationship with Christ. And its on the other side of our willingness to be open and sincere before Him. It's on the other side of our choice to be in fellowship with Him.
Give thanks. Just let what's in your heart pour out before the Savior. We are safe in His hands. He will handle our openness and our humility with loving arms and tenderness. Correction and conviction come from a heart that was willing to suffer and die just to have the relationship. We are safe with Him, not just saved by Him.
3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
As I was driving in this morning, I saw a car with GIVETHX on the license plate. I started humming the song by the same title (give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One...). It got me thinking about how I say thank you to the Father.
We've been hearing alot at Fellowship about doing things from the heart. Sunday school lessons, sermons and disciples studies of late have had a definite focus on sincerity and fellowship with the Father. We've talked about sincerity in action, sincerity in praise and worship, so I wasn't surprised when the Holy Spirit dropped a nugget about sincerity in thanks this morning.
I love this passage in Christ's walk. Ten people, all with the same issue take it to the Master for a change. All ten get their issue resolved but only one turns back to offer thanks. What's the result? The one was made whole. Everyone got healed, but this one was made whole.
Its sad sometimes how we'll enter into worship, do the works, go through the process of walking in faith, but we'll settle for the least amount of relationship. Salvation is good enough for far too many of us.
Don't get me wrong; salvation is AWESOME! But there's so much more available in this relationship with Christ. And its on the other side of our willingness to be open and sincere before Him. It's on the other side of our choice to be in fellowship with Him.
Give thanks. Just let what's in your heart pour out before the Savior. We are safe in His hands. He will handle our openness and our humility with loving arms and tenderness. Correction and conviction come from a heart that was willing to suffer and die just to have the relationship. We are safe with Him, not just saved by Him.
Psalm 8
1 O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
2 Out
of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because
of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9 O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment