But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge…
The greatest obstacle preventing Israel from escaping from Egypt and seizing the Promised Land wasn’t Pharaoh and his massive army. It wasn’t the imposing Red Sea. It wasn’t even the walled Canaanite cities. The greatest obstacle to the fulfillment of God’s promise was the grumbling hearts of God’s people. The…
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (I Thessalonians 5:16-18, New English Translation). True happiness seems elusive to many people. Part of this may result from their viewpoint on life. If we judge our happiness…
“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 My word for this year has been “grateful” I decided that I needed to change my perspective on a lot of things, and the way to do that was to…
“Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you”…
“And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?” (Luke 17:17, Holy Bible, King James Version).
Lepers in Bible times faced expulsion from the city, their families, their homes. Jesus cleansed a group of ten and spared them the physical disability and the cultural agony. Excited to be disease free, they went happily on their way. Only one returned to express his thanks to Jesus.
We scoff at the ungratefulness of the nine lepers who were so preoccupied with the rituals of being declared clean, they forgot to acknowledge the giver of the precious gift. But, what about us? Are we among the ungrateful, or the single one who took the time to be thankful for His cleansing mercy?
Prayer: Lord, I give you thanks for Your miraculous touch in my life. In You, I am made whole. Amen.
Devotion by Violet Carr Moore
“Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” (Psalm 37:4 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible) I watched a toddler’s eyes light up and he started clapping his hands as his mother approached his stroller with an ice cream…
And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks…” (Luke 17:15-16, Holy Bible King James Version).
Ten lepers stood far away from Jesus and cried out for mercy. Jesus tested their faith by telling them to go and show themselves to the Jewish priest, the custom when leprosy was cleansed. All were healed on the journey, but only one returned to give Jesus thanks. That one displayed the attitude of gratitude.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, in this world of selfies, help me to show the attitude of gratitude for Your touch. Amen.
Devotion by Violet Carr Moore
“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks…” (Luke 17:15-16, Holy Bible King James Version)
Ten lepers stood far away from Jesus and cried out for mercy. Jesus instructed them to go and show themselves to the Jewish priest as was customary when leprosy was cleansed. All were healed on the way but only one returned to give Jesus thanks. He had the attitude of gratitude.
Prayer: Jesus, I am so thankful that You are the same now as when You spoke to the ten lepers. Your salvation, healing and other miracles are available for me today as they were then. Like the grateful leper, I have the attitude of gratitude for the changes You have made in my life. Thank You for Your special touch. Amen.
Devotion by Susan Tracy