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Everyone Needs to be Like a Leper?

05/19/2016 By Keith Burnett

Thank You

For All That You’ve Done, I’ll Thank You

Yes! Everyone needs to be like this, but all will not be. And, NO!, I don’t mean we all need a bad disease. But there is an incredible display of grace and insight behind two little words: Thank You. We see it in Jesus’ healing and I must be guilty of being like the man Jesus healed!

Thank You – The Event  & The Insight

The event is one you probably know. The insight from it is probably new. So let’s begin with the familiar. Recorded in Luke 17 is Jesus healing 10 men with leprosy. Jesus told all ten to go show themselves to the priest. Verse 14 tells us:

And as they were going, they were cleansed.

All of them went. All were healed on their way. One of the lepers noticed his healing. Wasn’t leprosy Thank Youthe worst thing that could happen to person? Wouldn’t it be understandable to just keep running to the priest? After all, that’s exactly what Jesus said they should do. But gratitude altered the leper’s journey. He returned to say, Thank You! As I said, you probably know the story.

Those who know me well have probably heard me say, I want to be guilty of saying, Thanks. I used that phrase in the opening paragraph here. I base it on this account in Luke. My aim is to be as guilty as this leper when it comes to giving praise and expressing thanksgiving. That’s what this post is all about.

Thank You – The Insight

First, notice when the healing occurred. They obeyed Jesus (go to the priest). Their healing followed their obedience. That’s a major factor for anyone.

ThanksgivingSecond, the leper who noticed Jesus’ healing turned back. It seems he just couldn’t keep going without offering thanks to the One Who had made him well. Grace does that to attentive hearts. The grace that is bestowed on such a heart draws attention back to the Source: Jesus. Grace causes us to focus on Jesus instead of our usual self-absorbed concerns. Grace draws us from self-focus to God-focus. When we are focused on Him, gratitude is instinctive. We can’t see ourselves in comparison to Him without being grateful.

Third, Jesus taught His disciples with divine brevity. We see that in just one word of this account. You will probably find it surprising. It was probably surprising to the people of Jesus’ day that this leper was a Samaritan. Outside a leper colony, there would have been no mixing of Jews and Samaritans.. The racial hatred was acute. In a leper colony everyone is an outcast. And isn’t that they way it is with sin? No one is immune from that problem. Why do we treat others as if we don’t have the problems they have?

The surprise, and the insight, for us in found in a single word. The Greek word in verse 19 is sozo. That is translated in English as, well. However, there are some other options and that is where it gets interesting!

When the man said, Thank You, to Jesus, Jesus said to Him:

Stand up and go; your faith has made you sozo (well).

Sozo can also be translated is whole or saved. Think about that just a minute. Now, think about this: the man had already been healed of his leprosy. So what wholeness or wellness is Jesus addressing?

Does God not give a measure of grace to every person? Yes, He does. How many notice His grace and turn aside to thank Him for it? When a person notices God’s divine grace and responds to it, what do we call that?

There really is something worse than leprosy. It’s called sin and we all suffer from it. Nine lepers were physically healed. Only one was made whole! Should you be as guilty of saying, Thank You, as that tenth leper? You betcha!!!

Being Guilty: For Me

This is where my thoughts run today. They are all about amazing gratitude. As many know, we have been trying to raise funds to help do some needed construction work at the orphanage in Barahona. I learned this morning that a church has voted to fund the remaining needs (as I understand them today!). What is My response? I am trying to be as guilty as that tenth leper of saying, Thank You, Lord. What a blessing.

Soli Deo Gloria! 

 

Filed Under: Blog Page, Life Lessons, Ministry, Missions Tagged With: Blessings, Gospel of Luke, Leper, Luke, Luke 17, Thank you, Thanksgiving

We Got It! Thank You!

04/21/2016 By Keith Burnett

thank you

Thank You

Yesterday, I shared a necessary word about prayer and spiritual warfare. Today, it is a joy to share a very necessary Thank You for praying!

Thank You – Prayers Answered!

Even as I write, I don’t know all the details. But I do know enough to fill in some of the ‘blanks.’ I received a text message this morning letting me know the passport should be in hand by early afternoon. That was very good news. However, with an imminent departure ‘should be in hand‘ left some room for doubt.

Just after lunch I got another text. That one said the passport had been delivered. Better yet, it was in good shape and all the information was correct! Even things like that matter. From time to time something is incorrect. Had that been the case, the trip to the passport office would have been necessary in order to correct a mistake.

The bottom line is, we joined together in prayer for something that was a potential hindrance to the upcoming mission. And today, two things have been confirmed and affirmed for us. First, our Father is more than capable of overcoming any adversity His children face. Second, He answers prayer.

That said, it’s easy to make those connections when our prayers are answered with a divine, Yes! However, those truths remain even if our divine answers are, No!, or, Wait. 

So let me thank you again for joining in the battle. Remember, all prayer is spiritual warfare. And the next time you are facing a crisis, don’t forget to take it to the One who can and will address it perfectly. His answer may not be the one you are looking for, but His answer will be the perfect one. Why? Because He is good and cannot be less than good. Every good and perfect gift comes from Him!

Please pray for our Belize mission. Check here for mission updates!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Filed Under: Blog Page, Ministry, Missions, Prayer Tagged With: ministry, Missions, Prayer, Thank you, Thanksgiving

Blessed is the nation…

11/11/2013 By Keith Burnett

veterans thank youTo our Veterans, THANK YOU! We can still read and preach the Scripture.  We can urge our countrymen to draw near to God. These things are possible because of the sacrifices you and others have made!  We are grateful and indebted to you for so much.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, and the people He has chosen for His own inheritance.  (Psalm 33:12)

Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people.  (Proverbs 14:34)

Alas, sinful nation, people weighed down with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, sons who act corruptly! They have abandoned the LORD, They have despised the Holy One of Israel, They have turned away from Him.  (Isaiah 1:4)  veterans God bless

Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you hesitate between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” But the people did not answer him a word.  (I Kings 18:21)

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:8)

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.  (II Chronicles 7:14)

If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.  (Joshua 24:15)  as for me and my house 2

Have a safe and happy holiday!  Be grateful for the freedoms we have and do not use your liberty for license, but use it to serve the King of kings!

Soli Deo Gloria!

Filed Under: Blog Page Tagged With: I Chronicles 7, I Kings 18, Isaiah 1, Joshua 24, Proverbs 14, Psalm 33, Thank you, Veteran's Day

Thank You!

10/25/2013 By Keith Burnett

DSC_0059“Thank you!” Two small words with so much intended and so many to receive them.  This week has been a study in the family of God working together. First, we are here because a little church in Belize faithfully prayed to our big God. He brought us together as an answer to those prayers. As the roof was being completed in March, we planned for a Pastors’ School.  We also learned of a need for pure water.  [Read more…]

Filed Under: Belize 2013 Tagged With: Belize, Thank you

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