Wednesday, February 06, 2013

The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

(Seed Sowers Christian Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)

Wednesday, February 06, 2013   I Continued to Heal the Sick        

Page 193      Luke 17:11-19

Jesus does not give us much information about the ten lepers. At least one was a Samaritan. All ten moved away from Jesus, as Jesus instructed them. All ten were healed in the process of their obedience. Only one, the Samaritan, turned and went back to Jesus. I suspect we can draw all sorts of inferences from this episode, but at the very least we can affirm that as followers of Jesus we “give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20).

Because Jesus gives us so few details, I don’t think he wants us diverting our attention to the nine, trying to explain why they didn’t return. It is the attitude of gratitude of the tenth man that Jesus wants to permeate our souls. I have been helped in my attitude of gratitude by the simplicity of many of the Jewish prayers. As an example, at the end of the Sabbath the Jewish ritual of Havdalah makes a transition from the holiness of the Sabbath to the return of the work-week. The ritual includes wine, spices and a candle. The prayers include:

“Blessed are You Adonai our God, King of the universe,

Creator of the fruit of the vine;

Blessed are You Adonai our Lord, Ruler of the universe,

Creator of the different spices;

Blessed are You Adonai our God, Ruler of the universe,

Creator of the fire's light;

Blessed are You Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe,

who separates the holy and the profane, the light and dark,

Israel and the other nations, the seventh day and the six days of the week;

Blessed are You Adonai, who separates between the holy and the profane.”

Life is a gift. Life in Christ is the supreme gift. When we are walking hand in hand with our Blessed Redeemer, with child-like delight are hearts are transformed to always find occasion to sing, “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise him above, ye heavenly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen.”

Sē’lah

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What word or phrase in today’s reading attracts your attention?

Reflect on that word or phrase.

What insights come to you?

How does this passage touch your life today?

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  In addition to this BLOG they are distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ

(Seed Sowers Christian Book Publishing House. http://www.seedsowers.com/)

Thursday, February 07, 2013       I Told of the Coming Kingdom     

Page 193-194         Luke 17:20-37