Where Are The Nine? Devotion for Sunday June 28, 2020

MY DAILY COVENANT WITH GOD DEVOTIONAL

Devotion for Sunday June 28, 2020

Topic: Where Are The Nine?                                   

Text: Luke 17:11 – 17                           

People who had leprosy were required to try to stay away from other people and to announce their presence if they had to come near the place where normal people are living (Leviticus 13:46; Numbers 5:2, 3). It was for this reason, these lepers were in village in between Samaria and Galilee (Luke 17:11) as we have in our bible passage for the day. These lepers might have heard about Jesus which made them to stand afar off and with a loud voice shouted "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"

Sometimes leprosy went into remission. If a leper thought his leprosy had gone away, he was supposed to present himself to a priest, who could declare him clean (Leviticus 14). Jesus sent the 10 lepers to the priest before they were healed and they went! They responded in faith, and Jesus healed them on the way. Is your trust in God so strong that you act on what He says even before you see evidence that it will work?

Of the ten lepers, it was a Samaritan (Luke 17:16) that came back to thank Jesus for the mercies of healing received. This prompted Jesus to ask the question in 17:17, 18. Jesus had been distressed many times with his own people’s lack of acceptance and faith (Luke 7:9; 8:25; 12:28). This time was no different.

Familiarity breeds contempt. Ten men had been healed, but only one, the foreigner (referring to the man from Samaria), came back to give glory to God. Jesus was not so much concerned about being thanked as he was about the men’s understanding of what had happened. The other nine went off, free from leprosy but not necessarily free from sin through the salvation Jesus could offer.

What is usually your attitude when God does something for you? Do you return to thank Him or you behave like the nine?

Food for Thought: “A man’s indebtedness is not virtue; his repayment is. Virtue begins when he dedicates himself actively to the job of gratitude” – Ruth Benedict

Memory verse: Luke 17 v 17 

Prayer: Grant unto me O Lord, the heart of gratitude for everything you do for me.

Use Your Christianity to Break Barriers: Devotion for Saturday, August 17, 2013

Devotion for Saturday August 17, 2019

Topic: Use Your Christianity to Breaks Barriers

Text: John 4:4 – 15

The ancestors of the Samaritans were introduced into the land of Israel by the King of Assyria, after he had led the ten tribes into captivity (2 Kings 17:24 – 41). When the Jews returned from captivity in Babylon and began to rebuild their temple, the Samaritans asked for permission to build with them, and when this was refused, an enmity arose between the two people which never died out (Ezra 4:1 – 5; Nehemiah 2:10; 4:1 – 3).

There was no familiarity nor friendship between Jews and Samaritans before Jesus came into the world. However, this may not affect business as the disciples of Jesus Christ had gone to buy food in the town. This woman of Samaria knew that Jesus was a Jew. The antipathy between the Jews and Samaritans was so bitter that they will never want to ask any hospitable rite. The woman’s reply is not a refusal of the Jesus’ request anyway, but an expression of astonishment that a Jew should ask a favour of a Samaritan. However, Jesus had come to set example for us that Christianity should break barriers, build bridges and not walls.

Jesus taught us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:24; Luke 6:27 and 35). Jesus did not want to follow the status quo maintained by His people. He was distinct and that is what He expects from us. A Christian shouldn’t join his/her family to maintain enmity with another family.

Do you use your Christianity to break barriers and mend fences? Do you seek for avenues to reconcile people in enmity? This is what Christianity is all about; making peace and reconciling people, and people with God (2 Corinthians 5:17 – 19 and Matthew 5:9).

Food for Thought: 2 Corinthians 5:18

Memory verse: John 4:9

Prayer: Lord God, make me an instrument of peace in my generation in Jesus name.

Christianity Breaks Barriers

Devotion for Tuesday August 15, 2017

Topic: Christianity Breaks Barriers

Text: John 4:4 – 15

The ancestors of the Samaritans were introduced into the land of Israel by the King of Assyria, after he had led the ten tribes into captivity (2 Kings 17:24 – 41). When the Jews returned from captivity in Babylon and began to rebuild their temple, the Samaritans asked for permission to build with them, and when this was refused, an enmity arose between the two people which never died out (Ezra 4:1 – 5; Nehemiah 2:10; 4:1 – 3).

There was no familiarity nor friendship between Jews and Samaritans before Jesus came into the world. However, this may not affect business as the disciples of Jesus Christ had gone to buy food in the town. This woman of Samaria knew that Jesus was a Jew. The antipathy between the Jews and Samaritans was so bitter that they will never want to ask any hospitable rite. The woman’s reply is not a refusal of the Jesus’ request anyway, but an expression of astonishment that a Jew should ask a favour of a Samaritan. However, Jesus had come to set example for us that Christianity should break barriers, build bridges and not walls.

Jesus taught us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:24; Luke 6:27 and 35). Jesus did not want to follow the status quo maintained by His people. He was distinct and that is what He expects from us. A Christian shouldn’t join his/her family to maintain enmity with another family. Do you use your Christianity to break barriers and mend fences? Do you seek for avenues to reconcile people in enmity? This is what Christianity is all about; making peace and reconciling people, and people with God (2 Corinthians 5:17 – 19 and Matthew 5:9).

Food for Thought: 2 Corinthians 5:18

Memory verse: John 4:9

Prayer: Lord God, make me an instrument of peace in my generation in Jesus name.

WHERE ARE THE NINE? Devotion for Sunday June 19, 2016

WHERE ARE THE NINE? Devotion for Sunday June 19, 2016 

      

Text: Luke 17:11 – 17      Memory verse: v 17

People who had leprosy were required to try to stay away from other people and to announce their presence if they had to come near (Leviticus 13:46; Numbers 5:2, 3). It was for this reason, these lepers were in village in between Samaria and Galilee (Luke 17:11). These lepers might have heard about Jesus which made them to stand afar off and with a loud voice shouted "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" Sometimes, leprosy goes into remission. If a leper thought his leprosy had gone away, he was supposed to present himself to a priest, who could declare him clean (Leviticus 14). Jesus sent the 10 lepers to the priest before they were healed and they went! They responded in faith, and Jesus healed them on the way. Is your trust in God so strong that you act on what He says even before you see evidence that it will work?

Of the ten lepers, it was a Samaritan (Luke 17:16) that came back to thank Jesus for the mercies of healing received. This prompted Jesus to ask the question in 17:17, 18. Jesus had been distressed many times with His own people’s lack of acceptance and faith (Luke 7:9; 8:25; 12:28). This time was no different. Familiarity breeds contempt. Ten men had been healed, but only one, the foreigner (referring to the man from Samaria), came back to give glory to God. Jesus was not so much concerned about being thanked as He was about the men’s understanding of what had happened. The other nine went off, free from leprosy but not necessarily free from sin through the salvation Jesus could offer. What is usually your attitude when God does something for you? Do you return to thank Him or you behave like the nine?

Food for Thought: “A man’s indebtedness is not virtue; his repayment is. Virtue begins when he dedicates himself actively to the job of gratitude” – Ruth Benedict.

Prayer: Grant unto me O God, a heart of gratitude for everything you do for me.