Where Are the Nine?

Few folks in this world remember to be thankful.   Luke 17:11-19 gives us a biblical example. 

Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem.  He passed between Samaria and Galilee.  On His way, He entered a village where He was approached by ten lepers who begged to be healed.  Jesus told them to go to the priests and as they went they were healed. 

Most of us probably already know about this event.  When one of the lepers realized he was healed, he turned back.  He praised God with a loud voice. As well he should have for Jesus had given him a remarkable gift of healing.  But that wasn’t all, was it? 

Luke 17:16 says the man “fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving Him thanks.  Now he was a Samaritan.”

I can just see this scene played out in my mind.  This man with such a horrible, debilitating disease – one that makes a person an outcast of society – praised God loudly! 

He was overjoyed and full of thanksgiving.  So much so, that he fell at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him.  Leprosy is such a terrible disease.  I can imagine the beauty of this scene.   But why did Luke mention that the man was a Samaritan?

I think the next two verses answer this question.  “Then Jesus answered, ‘Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?  Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”

Ten were cleansed.  Ten.  Only one came back.  NiNE did not come back.  They were healed just like the Samaritan was, but they were not thankful. 

Now when Jesus called the Samaritan a foreigner, He did not do so because of prejudice.  It was not a derogatory remark.  Not at all!  It was meant for emphasis.  Do we think Jesus didn’t already know there was a Samaritan in the group?  Of course, He knew!

Jesus’ remark was for emphasis.  It is most likely the other nine men were Jews.  They were the ones who were God’s chosen people.  They should have known their cleansing came from God!  Yet, they did not come back.  Only the Samaritan did. 

Jesus came to die for all nations – not just one.  God promised Abraham all nations of the earth would be blessed through his lineage.  Jesus is the answer to that promise for all of us. 

Near the close of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said, “For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:14).   

Are we among the few?  The answer is up to us.

Christ above all things - Robin

Making the Right Choice

This week our Thursday morning Bible class studied from Hebrews Chapter 11, and we only got through the first seven verses! That’s OK. Our discussions helped me grow. It amazes me how I can study a passage many times and still gain something from it.

Hebrews 11:1 gives us a definition of faith. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

We are sure we will receive what we hope for -that is the promises of God. We are convinced of things we cannot see –not only the promises, but the very existence of God.

Verse 3 says “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” Think about that. It is mind-blowing, isn’t it?

What we see was made by things we cannot see. God literally spoke the universe into existence. “And God said let there be light, and there was light” (Genesis 1:3).

If we bake a cake, we do it from things we can see and touch. We don’t just say “Let there be a cake.” It does not work that way. Only God can create by merely speaking.

We also discussed Abel, Enoch, and Noah. They are the first three people mentioned in this chapter who had great faith. Why these three?

Abel offered to God (v.4). Enoch pleased God (v.5). Noah constructed an ark (v.7). They are mentioned because they did something. They followed God’s instructions because they believed what He told them.

Abel offered a pleasing sacrifice because God had instructed him what to sacrifice. Enoch could only have pleased God by believing and doing what he said.

We know this because of Hebrews 11:6 – “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

I never thought about Enoch and verse 6 being related, until we studied together Thursday. Isn’t that crazy? It makes perfect sense, but I just never connected it with Enoch. The Holy Spirit inspired the writer to insert this verse so we could understand exactly how Enoch pleased God. It was because of his faith.

What about Noah? He was warned of God about something the world had never seen – a flood. No one had ever seen a flood, but Noah believed what God said anyway. He built the ark out of reverence for God. Noah held God in the highest esteem and was in awe of His power.

Noah, Enoch, and Abel all acted on their faith and obeyed God. They made the right choice.

We all have a choice. Will we make the right one?

Christ above all things - Robin

Where Are My Instruments?

Dad was a preacher for quite a few years.  Part of this devotional is paraphrased from one of his sermons.  I remember him telling a story that touched my heart.  It is kind of sad, but it made an excellent point – one that I should remind myself of more often.

Many years ago, there was a train wreck.  Several passengers were on board and some of them were injured.  People rushed to the wreckage to see what they could do to help.  One man was found pacing up and down beside the train.  He was apparently dazed.

One lady heard him muttering to himself.  “My instruments.  My instruments.  If I only had my instruments, I could help.  Where are my instruments?” 

He kept saying the same thing repeatedly.  The lady stopped him.  “Excuse me, sir.  Why are you talking about your instruments?  What is so important about them?”

The man stopped his pacing to look at the lady.  “I am a doctor,” he explained sadly.  I was on the train, but I lost my instruments when we wrecked.  If I only had them, I could help the people who are hurt.”

Dad went on to say, “I wonder if God ever looks down from heaven and asks, ‘Where are My instruments?” ` yourself.’  There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:31).

As always, Christ sets the example for us.  He told the apostles, “Even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).

Finally, our brother Paul wrote in Romans 6:13 “Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.”

I don’t want to be missing when God looks for me to help, do you? 

Christ above all things - Robin

Daniel Knew that God Would

Have you ever seen the quote, "Faith is not believing that God can, but knowing that He will?"  Think about that.  It goes pretty deep doesn't it?  There really is a difference between believing and knowing.  Our faith is God should be based on knowing - knowing God will keep His promises.

We see faith exemplified and rewarded in many ways.  We probably all have experienced times in our lives (and seen it in the lives of others) where we acted on our faith in God.  Maybe there was an occasion when we just took a giant leap of faith.  In turn, our Heavenly Father rewarded us richly. 

One beautiful example of knowing that God will is the example of Daniel and his 3 friends as told in Daniel Chapter 1.  It is a wonderful story of faith affirmed.  

Daniel, along with many other Israelites were taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon.  Daniel and his friends were part of the group of young men taken to be trained to serve in the king's court.  

According to what I have studied, Daniel was anywhere from 15 to 20 when this all took place.  It is logical to assume he was young enough to be "re-trained," so it makes sense. 
     

These young men were those who were healthy, good looking (Daniel 1:4 says they had no blemish) and intelligent.  But they were Jewish, not Chaldean.  They were to be taught the Chaldean language and culture.  

The king wanted them to totally forget their past and who they were.  How would you feel if this happened to you?  These young men were probably frightened.  They were ripped from their homes - their homeland, and their families.  They were even given new names. 

The name Daniel means - "God is my judge."  His new name was "Beltshazzar" which was in honor of one of the Babylonian gods.  It meant "Bel protect his life."  See what I mean about stripping their identity from them?

 Daniel's three friends, Hannaniah, Mishael, and Azariah are brought in to be trained as per the instructions of the king.  These three were re-named Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. 

According to verse 5, they were all given a daily portion of the king's food.  The king meant to nourish them with the best food the land had to offer so that they would be able to "stand before the king."

The food, however, was not "clean."  It was not allowed by God's law for the Jewish people to eat this type of food.  

Here is where Daniel's knowing faith comes in.  Verse 8 says, "But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the king's meat."  He requested not to have to eat the king's food.  

Verse 9 says God brought Daniel into favor with the prince of the eunuchs.  God knew Daniel's heart and He provided a way for Daniel so that he would not have to defile himself with the king's meat.

Had Daniel not been regarded with such high favor by the chief eunuch, it is very likely his request would have been ignored.  He & his friends would have been forced to eat whatever was given them.  

Daniel bargained with the eunuch.  He requested that they be given vegetables and water for ten days.  This way Daniel, Hannaniah, Mishael, and Azariah would not be disobeying God's laws.  

At the end of the 10 days, the chief eunuch could compare these four with all the others who were eating from the king's table.  If the four of them did not look as healthy as the others, they would also eat the king's food.  

But if they looked as healthy and fair as the other young men,  they would be allowed to continue eating vegetables and drinking water.  

This event when Daniel was young is typical of the way he lived his entire life.  He never allowed himself to break God's laws.  He always trusted God would provide a way for Him.

Was this bargain a gamble? I don't think so.  I think this is a perfect example of someone who "knew that God would."  He never doubted for one second he and his friends would pass this test.  

He knew that he was obeying God's laws; and he knew that God would make sure they were as healthy as the other young men. This was no gamble.  It was an act of pure faith.  

We can all learn from Daniel and his friends.  Our faith must be a confident, knowing faith.  We should know God will take care of us as long as we are striving to do His will.  

  
Hebrews 11:6 says - "But without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe (know) that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."  

I think these four young men sought to please God.  They knew He would reward them.  Why?  Because they diligently sought Him by staying true to His teachings. 

What a wonderful record of a 'knowing God will' kind of faith!

Christ above all things - Robin