Fisherman in a canoe at sunset by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Good morning, beloved,
Yesterday was a gift day. Danny and Luke had friends over. Now to those of you who know us well, you know what a beautiful gift this is to them. God gave them a day. If you are just getting to know me, my two middle sons have had a rough road. They are “book-ended” by my children who can make friends with anyone. So, these past two years we have prayed and prayed for God to bless my boys with a friend each. Not loads. Not tons. Just a friend who they could pal around with…many nights both have cried that never will they find a friend. Never will they be a friend.
And my God gave me an idea. I know it was God. I know it. Take them fishing. Ha! So we trooped with Ella in tow with her box of “cooking supplies” over to the lake. And I brought my Bible study. Yet I found myself watching my children talking, laughing, catching fish..it was magical. It was a time I just don’t want to forget. Ella would run up on the pier to touch the fish. They spent the afternoon fishing. Three older gentlemen were there too and one man and I kept on a steady conversation. He was so delighted to watch their enjoyment. The kids kept on catching fish and yelling out..this is the best day ever! To this mom’s heart, it was music. No it was a symphony. I give God thanks, because my boys found friends. And a God who answers prayers.
Sport fishermen on the Upper Umpqua River from State Highway 138
So today will be an important day of reflection for our family, a day to look back and see God’s hands and see His deep love for them and His answered prayers. No matter the future. Today. It makes me think of the ten lepers…
12 And as He was going into one village, He was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance.
13 And they raised up their voices and called, Jesus, Master, take pity and have mercy on us!
14 And when He saw them, He said to them, Go [at once] and show yourselves to the priests. And as they went, they were cured and made clean.
15 Then one of them, upon seeing that he was cured, turned back, recognizing andthanking and praising God with a loud voice;
16 And he fell prostrate at Jesus’ feet, thanking Him [over and over]. And he was a Samaritan.
17 Then Jesus asked, Were not [all] ten cleansed? Where are the nine?
18 Was there no one found to return and to recognize and give thanks and praise to God except this alien?
19 And He said to him, Get up and go on your way. Your faith (your trust and confidence that spring from your belief in God) has restored you to health.
Lepers…Jesus, Master, take pity! (remembering they stood at a distance…)
Let’s look at the context of lepers in the Bible..In Leviticus 17, God gives the nation of Israel a detailed understanding of this disease that would ravage a body. God was giving them life by giving them guidance to live by..we look at Leviticus and we think and joke about boredom but to the Jewish nation this was life! This was their teaching textbook, so to say. Here is a bit on leprosy:
Leprosy, also known as Hansen’s disease (HD), is a chronic disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae andMycobacterium lepromatosis. Named after physician Gerhard Armauer Hansen, leprosy is primarily a granulomatous disease of theperipheral nerves and mucosa of the upper respiratory tract; skin lesions are the primary external sign. Left untreated, leprosy can be progressive, causing permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes. Contrary to folklore, leprosy does not cause body parts to fall off, although they can become numb or diseased as a result of secondary infections; these occur as a result of the body’s defenses being compromised by the primary disease. Secondary infections, in turn, can result in tissue loss causing fingers and toes to become shortened and deformed, as cartilage is absorbed into the body.
Why am I sharing this with you? Well, I think context is important yet also the depth of their need! Take pity! Have mercy upon us! They needed Jesus. Word of His miracles had reached their ears and they were longing to be part of this ministry. Can you picture it?
Akiane Prince of Peace
Jesus beholds them, (horaō) to see, to look to, to care for, pay heed to…yet how He heals them…so intriguing…He sends them to the priests. For to be declared unclean, you would need to go before the priest..(Leviticus 13:1-3) To be declared clean and able to walk among the living, the man or woman must present himself once again.
Leviticus 13: 16 But if the raw flesh turns again and becomes white, he shall come to the priest,17 And the priest shall examine him, and if the diseased part is turned to white again, then the priest shall pronounce him clean who had the disease; he is clean.
So Jesus sends them on their way to the priests and the miracle occurs when?
Road way over Ellel Grange Bridge Track leading from A6 to Gragg Hall Farm (Lakewood Cottages) and Ellel Grange by J Scott
And as they went, they were cured and made clean…clean-katharizō–from physical stains and dirt, as in the case of utensils,Mat 23:25 (figuratively in Mat 23:26); from disease, as of leprosy, Mat 8:2...friends, does that Greek word look at all familiar to you? How about the word, cathartic? to purify, to purge, to cleanse…love it! Jesus was healing them from the inside out. I also appreciate the other part of this definition. A good reminder to me…the physical stains, the dirt…sounds familiar too..my sins…
Anyway, it seems to me the next part hasn’t happened after they have gone to the priests, but before… This is my reading. Talk amongst yourselves. 😉
Then one of them, upon seeing that he was cured, turned back, recognizing and thanking and praising God with a loud voice;
1 I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. 2 O Lord my God, I cried to You and You have healed me.11 You have turned my mourning into dancing for me; You have put off my sackcloth and girded me with gladness,12 To the end that my tongue and my heart and everything glorious within me may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.
Not sure if this is what he cried to Jesus..but this is what my heart’s response needs to be to His bountiful gifts in my life!
Jasminum sambac by Prenn
1 Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is [deepest] within me, bless His holy name!
2 Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not [one of] all His benefits—
3 Who forgives [every one of] all your iniquities, Who heals [each one of] all your diseases,
4 Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption, Who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy;
And he fell prostrate at Jesus’ feet, thanking Him [over and over]. And he was a Samaritan..
Now, what I find almost amusing about this…And he was a Samaritan..I’ll do more on that later, but suffice to say, Samaritans were a despised people from the Jewish standpoint, for good reasons. Again..another day..
Thanking Him over and over…do we thank Him over and over? How are you doing with writing three things you are thankful for every day? I didn’t write it down yesterday but I’m working towards it and my kids have started back up their journals. No time like the present! 😉 Here’s a printable calendar to begin recording your thankfuls…;)
http://www.aholyexperience.com/a-100-day-calendar-printable-for-fresh-start/
Then Jesus asked, Were not [all] ten cleansed? Where are the nine?
Let it not be said of us! Let us be a thankful people!
Psalm 106 :13 But they hastily forgot His works; they did not [earnestly] wait for His plans [to develop] regarding them..
Romans 121 Because when they knew and recognized Him as God, they did not honor and glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. But instead they became futile and godless in their thinking [with vain imaginings, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations] and their senseless minds were darkened.
A frightening thought…is it not?
Was there no one found to return and to recognize and give thanks and praise to God except this alien?
Before you get up in arms about the word alien…what Jesus means here is : sprung from another tribe, a foreigner, alien..and actually, my bet, is He is looking around wondering where are the Jewish men and women who have been just healed? Have they forgotten the Psalms?
1 Ascribe to the Lord, O sons of the mighty, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Give to the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness or in holy array.
23 He who brings an offering of praise and thanksgiving honors and glorifies Me; and he who orders his way aright [who prepares the way that I may show him], to him I will demonstrate the salvation of God.
So think on that, turning back to give thanks, to honor and glorify the Lord…God will demonstrate HIS SALVATION!! And the nine lepers missed it. They missed the true blessing…yes, they received the physical healing, but…check out this blessing Jesus give this Samaritan. 😉
(Delphinium × cultorum) by Prenn
And He said to him, Get up and go on your way. Your faith (your trust and confidence that spring from your belief in God) has restored you to health.
WOOHOO! (Is anyone still with me?) Can you tell it’s Saturday and I’m just relaxing? 🙂 Oh, Lord, I love YOUR Word. Teach us, Father! Holy Spirit, fall fresh!
May your faith, beloved, may your trust and confidence that spring from your belief in God restore you today! Turn back, thank Him, beloved. Don’t forget. You can find something. I know you can. I know you can….
Before I forget, will you check this out? I had to reread this and I was so amazed by the drive that Ann Voskamp is doing through her blog…check it out, will you?
http://www.aholyexperience.com/2012/05/the-one-thousand-moms-project-make-a-mothers-day-difference/
Pray on, pray on.
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