Prayer Wall
Welcome to our Prayer Wall with regular exhortations
From OUR MARCH TIME OF PRAYER & FASTING TOGETHER
Thankfulness/Gratitude cannot be requested, demanded, or coerced, it can only be given. The story of the 10 lepers in Luke 17:11-19 is a perfect example of what gratitude and ingratitude looks like.
"As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 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. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Here's a few points to highlight from this story
The healing of the lepers didn't take place until after they obeyed. We sometimes want instantaneous healing before we'll believe but faith in this story is shown in the going. Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen. Faith is trusting and obeying God even if there is no visible evidence to support that faith. Remember the centurion who said “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed or Naaman who was prepared to dip himself in the Jordan river based on Elisha's instructions. Both were rewarded for their obedience.
Jesus expects and highly values our gratitude. I believe it is clear from Jesus' words that he was disappointed that the others who got healed didn't come back to give thanks. I'm sure they all had an excuse for not coming back. They glorified in their healing but failed to give glory to God. Their hearts were far from Jesus. The real problem is when pride and self sufficiency invades our hearts we feel that we have no one to thank. Romans 1:21 says "For although they knew God, they did not honour him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened."
Giving thanks involves making ourselves vulnerable because we are admitting publicly that we are not "super spirituals". May we always remember that His strength is perfected in our weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9). May we remain humble always giving thanks and honouring God for the numerous miracles we experience on a daily basis.
Thankfulness is part of our worship and brings a greater blessing. “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” What the grateful ex-leper received from Jesus went beyond physical healing. He received salvation, wholeness and God's shalom.
I want to encourage you to have a grateful heart not only towards God but also towards the sisters and brothers that God has placed around you to bless you. Let us not be ashamed of our sicknesses, our vulnerabilities but let's open our hearts and allow the Lord to come to our rescue. As the songwriter says "And all my life You have been faithful. And all my life You have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able. Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God.."