Were there not ten cleansed?

Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 2; 1 John 2; Nahum 1; Luke 17

Luke 17:17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

As he entered the village he saw them. There were ten men who were lepers and had heard of Jesus because they called out to him asking him to have mercy on them. There is no cure for leprosy however Jesus made it a habit to touch and heal lepers during his earthly ministry. He didn’t touch these men but only told them to go their way and show themselves to the priest. Moses was given instructions on how a priest was to handle a leper who had been cleansed of his leprosy. In Leviticus 14 there is a process of sacrifices and quarantine that a person who has been cleansed of leprosy is to go through.

As these ten men were walking toward Jerusalem, they realized that they were cleansed of their leprosy!

Luke 17:15-16 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: and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus had answered these men’s prayers in a miraculous way. This man was grateful and came back giving glory to God with a loud voice. He was shouting! He was clean! His life was given back to him. The leprosy had made him an outcast of society. He could not see his family except at a distance. He had lived outside of the village and had to beg for food because the disease was so contagious. Now he was clean and he gave God glory and said, “Thank you,” to Jesus.

Jesus was surprised that only one man was grateful. The other nine hurried off to the temple to begin the quarantine process. Where were they? Did they not give thanks for what Jesus had done for them? What a lesson to learn! We are not entitled to the blessings that God gives to us. We must always give thanks to God for his mercy.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Where are the nine? Let us not make the mistake of forgetting to give God thanks. We have so much to be grateful for! Let’s say thank you to Jesus every time we have a chance!

In Christ,

Rody

They have Moses and the prophets

Bible Reading: 2 Chronicles 1; 1 John 1; Micah 7; Luke 16

Luke 16:29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

The Rich man was in hell and he could see Abraham and Lazarus standing across the great gulf that separated them. He was tormented in the flames of hell. He wanted Abraham to send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and cool his tongue. Abraham answered him saying this was impossible since one could not go from one side of the great gulf to the other. Spiritual destiny is determined during this life. There is no second chance after death.

As the rich man suffered, he began to think of his family. Please know this – people in hell don’t want their loved ones to join them! The rich man’s five brothers he knew were going to be joining him. He wanted Abraham to send Lazarus to warn them before it was too late. He was convinced that a person coming back from the dead would be convincing. Interestingly, many people today who are still living think the same thing. There are many people who give testimonies and write books claiming they have died and Jesus sent them back to warn others of the horrors of hell. Because of Abraham’s message to the rich man, I don’t believe any of these folks.

Abraham told the rich man that a testimony from one who had been dead and come back to life would make no difference. He said they had the definitive Word on life and death and life after death – the Bible. They have Moses and the prophets – let them hear them! Abraham said an eyewitness account of hell was worthless for a person who will not hear the Word of God.

Do we believe this today? Do we preach the gospel knowing that it is powerful and effective to save from hell?

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

We do not need an eye witness account from someone who has visited hell. We need humble people who are Spirit-filled and ready to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with those that they love. Please don’t live a life of regret like the rich man. He lived for himself in the here-and-now. Let’s live for eternity and love enough to tell the truth of Jesus!

In Christ,

Rody

Grow in grace

Bible Reading: 1 Chronicles 29; 2 Peter 3; Micah 6; Luke 15

2 Peter 3:17-18 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Peter starts his second epistle telling us to grow in our faith and he ends his epistle telling us to grow in grace. In between these two admonitions is a warning about false prophets and false teachers. Peter knew there would come false teachers into the church and he warned the early believers. He is warning us today! Beware! Don’t let the false teachers lead you astray. So what is the answer to false teaching? How do you guard against what the false prophet is saying? The answer is to grow!

The man or woman of God MUST know the Bible so you can know the truth.

John 8:31-32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Continuing in the Word is what a disciple does. This is how you know the truth. If you know the truth, you will never fall for the lies of a false teacher. The Bible commands us to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Never stop growing. Never stop learning.

2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Can you rightly divide the word of truth? Do you diligently study the Bible? Do you read it daily? Do you weigh everything by the Word of God?

The best defense against the false teacher is to know the Word of God. I pray that you are a part of a church where the Bible is preached and taught. I pray that you encourage those pastors and teachers who are faithful to the Word of God. I pray that you check each book that you read and make sure that it is Biblically sound. The truth will make you free!

In Christ,

Rody