Responding

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.              

                                                                                                                   Luke 17.15,16

Ten lepers had been healed, but only one came back to praise God for his healing. How readily we might accept the good that God does for us, but how slow may we be in thanking Him and giving Him the praise and glory that is warranted?

The leper who was healed was a Samaritan. The healing took place on the border between Samaria and Galilee, and it is likely that the lepers comprised Samaritans and Jews for, though Jews did not normally associate with Samaritans, leprosy broke down social barriers. It also erected others.

So the lepers might well have comprised Samaritans and Jews. But only a Samaritan responded. This was surely quite surprising in the climate of the day!

Similarly today, we might be surprised at the people who respond to Jesus. Those we may expect to respond could quite easily turn, and go their own way, while those we might not expect to respond could well be the ones to come forward with praise and thanksgiving to God. And these latter would be mightily blessed – “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” (v 19).

Lord God,

I thank You, firstly, that You brought me to respond to You. I am grateful, and I seek to follow Your ways for all time.  

I thank You also for all those You touch who respond positively to You. May they also know the fullness of the life You have for them.

I pray for those who pass by on their own way. Please give them further opportunity to turn to You. Soften hardened hearts and turn around lives that presently point away from You. May Your love consume, and may all those in need of Your love be touched. Use those who love You to spread Your love. I ask these things in Jesus’ name.                         Amen.                                                                                                                    

Sufficient

He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.”                

                                                                                                                     Luke 17.6

Jesus has been teaching His disciples in a righteous way of life, particularly with regard to sin and forgiveness. He urges them, and us, to watch yourselves against sin. We are to be ever alert and recognise sin, and deny it any foothold. And we are to be forgiving. It does not matter how many times others sin against us, we are to forgive for as many times as they repent. (These are the words of the narrative, yet I know that our forgiveness must extend beyond their repentance – and even lack of it.)

The disciples felt incapable of measuring up to the standards that Jesus set out. They asked Him to increase their faith in order that they might respond well to this requirement of them.

Jesus’ reply was to tell them that the smallest measure of faith is sufficient. He gives the unlikely example of small (mustard seed) faith being capable of uprooting a mulberry tree and planting it in the sea.

This insight gives me much to think about. I sense that I have mustard seed faith. I have a desire to “move mulberry trees” – as it were. Jesus, I believe, is telling me I already have the faith to do this. So, where do I go from here?

Lord Jesus,

I believe Your Word. I receive Your Word. I understand that You are telling me I have within me, already, the faith to command miracles.

I can readily acknowledge a measure of faith within me. I perhaps have not believed that this could be sufficient to allow wonders and miracles. I ask You to help me remove this stumbling block, for I see it as such. I need to believe that the faith I have is sufficient.

I am not the one to cause miracles – You are! I know this, and I need to believe for the miracles in You, and through You. Grow me in this, please, in Your most powerful name I ask.              Amen.

My book “God Talk” is available through major Internet booksellers.

A taste of the book's content can be seen in the You Tube clip (Search: Peter Francis - "God Talk").

Convinced

“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”                                         Luke 16.31

The rich man is in hell while Lazarus, the beggar, is safely in the company of Abraham. The rich man calls out to Abraham for help, firstly for himself and, when that is not forthcoming, then for his brothers who remain on earth.

Abraham reminds him that his brothers have Moses and the Prophets, that is the Holy Scriptures, to guide them in the way of the truth. If they ignore the teachings and directions of the Scriptures then no other avenue will reach them.

And so it is for us. The Word of God as contained in the Bible is the most wonderful guide into the Kingdom. God speaks through His Word and, I truly believe, as I give myself to absorbing the Holy Scriptures, I place myself to hear from God in so many other ways.

God speaks to me through His Word and it behoves me to listen. For me, God’s Word is alive and dynamic. It brings me into close contact with Him. It invites me into deeper intimacy, and I gladly accept the invitation.

Holy Lord,

I thank You for Your Word. I ask You to speak to me from all of Your Word. There is so much I want to know and share with You. I delight to hear from You. I give myself to even deeper revelation. May You speak clearly and widely to me.

I receive Your Word and my heart’s desire is to be obedient. I am not always successful in this and I ask Your forgiveness for those times when I mess up. May I be ever open to hear You and even more willing to be obedient to what You may say or ask of me.

I pray that I will need no intermediary to lead me to You. You beckon me from the words of Your Word. I come, Holy One. I come to the fullness of Your Word for me, in sincere humility and grateful thanks.                            Amen.

Listen, and believe

When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief.                        Matt. 17.22,23

Jesus had previously explained to His disciples how He would go to Jerusalem where He would suffer much at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law; that He would be killed but on the third day be raised to life (Matt. 16.21).

Now the disciples are being told for the second time. Their reaction is such that they were filled with grief. On each occasion Jesus has stressed how necessary it is for Him to die, but He has made it abundantly clear that He will rise to new life on the third day.

Yet, when these events finally came to pass, the disciples were utterly devastated by the crucifixion, and equally amazed at the resurrection. I understand the human reaction to a certain degree, yet in the light of their very clear foreknowledge of events, I find it puzzling that they did not rather respond in full confidence that all was pre-ordained and would be wonderfully right.

The questions that come to mind are: Did the disciples truly hear Jesus when He foretold these things? And, if so, did they believe Him?

Of course, this brings me to me. I believe God speaks to me. Today I am challenged to consider – Do I truly listen to Him? And, if so, do I believe Him?

O Most Amazing God,

I do indeed believe that You speak to me. Let me hear You and pay heed to all You would say and share with me. Let me believe, fully, whatever You may have for me.

I ask You to take my present faith, and increase it. Show me greater things. Share more wonders, please, in Jesus’ name I ask.               Amen.

My book “God Talk” is available through major Internet booksellers.

A taste of the book's content can be seen in the You Tube clip (Search: Peter Francis - "God Talk").