Thanksgiving
Luke 17 relates an example of an ungrateful heart. Jesus in verse 11 was on his way to Jerusalem and passed through Samaria and Galilee. Samaritans were considered half breeds and were despised by the Jews. However, Jesus often did that which offended the “orthodox” Jews of his day. He entered a certain village and was met by ten lepers who were standing afar off. Leprosy is a picture of sin, brokenness and suffering. It is a picture of utter depravity. Jesus was drawn to lepers. He came to minster to the outcasts, down trodden…those who were desperate and knew that they were in need… those who are the dregs of society.
When we’re rich and satisfied, the things of the world and the comfort of the flesh will separate us from a heart that needs the Lord. The church of Laodicea in Revelation thought that because they were wealthy, they had need of nothing. As Oswald Chambers says, God needs to knock the boards out from under our lives so that we can be “desperate for his salvation.” At those points of repentance, of realization that we desperately need him, he will open our hearts and he will open our eyes. Jesus came to set the captives free and to open the eyes of the blind…those who are desperately in need of Him.
The ten lepers lifted up their voices when Jesus approached. They cried out, “Jesus Master, have mercy upon us!” They addressed Jesus as their Lord, commander, and master. They were desperately in need. They exalted Jesus as the one who has authority over sin and the consequences of sin. They cried out for mercy. Mercy is a cry for not giving us what we deserve. They understood that they were prisoners because of the consequences of sin and their own sin nature.
Blessings in God’s eyes are not what we think of as blessings. When we receive bad news that “rocks our world” it’s really neither good nor bad, it’s just news. According to Romans 8, all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to his purpose.
Jesus said to the Lepers, “Go show your selves to the priest.” As they went they were cleansed. God requires extreme obedience with no questioning or complaining on our part and no explanation on His part. They were cleansed in the doing of the word of the Lord.
One of the lepers who was cleansed said with a Loud voice, “Praise God…Thank you Lord.” He was not ashamed of the mercy of the Lord. The one man who gave thanks was a Samaritan. Despite the differences between the Samaritans and the Jews, the ground is level at the foot of the cross. Jesus answered the man, “were there not ten men? Is no one left to praise and give thanks except this foreigner?” He said, “Go your way, your faith has made you whole.” This Samaritan foreigner came back to the true high priest, Jesus Christ himself. He is the one who pardons and forgives, the true high priest after the order of Malchesidech.
According to Isaiah 55, “my ways are not your ways,” says the Lord. No one understands the way of the Lord. Do you not know that you are not your own? You have been bought with the price of the innocent blood of the Lamb of God. True fellowship is the fellowship of his suffering. We’re never closer to the Lord than when we share in his suffering.
God has called us to be his “living epistles” known and read of all men. He has called us to communion (co-union) with him: in good times and in bad, in richness and in poverty, in sickness and in health. Despite the circumstances and situations of life, all things will pass away… This too, shall pass. For everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven. Every heartbreak and every success is to see whether we are faithful to give thanks for his grace and mercy. As Pete’s wife said, Joy is not the absence of pain, rather joy is the presence of the Lord.
According to Oswald Chambers, our life is a living sacrifice. Romans 12:1 says, present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and wholly acceptable unto him who is your reasonable act of service.
Pete’s wife Suzan never cried through her painful ordeal with terminal brain cancer. She only cried when she was overwhelmed with thankfulness for the love of her “prayer warriors” who carried her along in fellowship with her Lord. It’s easy in our pain and grief to throw ourselves a “pity party.” Pete says ministering to his wife through her last days was one of the greatest blessings of his life. What the world considers a “curse” the Lord considers a “blessing.”
The blessing is serving Him as we serve those whom God has called us to minister. Like the servant who humbly served his master, there is no glory in serving by law and obligation. The glorious blessing is in going beyond the call of duty to serve our Master from a heart of love and gratitude.
God will break our heart so that we can be thankful for a broken heart. Our job is to say, “here am I Lord, send me.” Our job is to serve the Lord with gladness, to come before is presence with singing. Be thankful unto him and bless his name. For the Lord is good, his mercy is everlasting, and his truth endureth to all generations…
Despite tribulation, pain, and suffering; Despite riches and abundance… Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice. In everything give thanks.
May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael