Daily Devotion

JESUS WAS ON THE BORDER BETWEEN GALILEE, AND SAMARIA, AND WAS MET BY A BAND OF TEN LEPERS. WE KNOW THAT THE JEWS HAD NO DEALINGS WITH THE SAMARITANS; YET, IN THIS BAND THERE WAS AT LEAST ONE SAMARITAN. HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF A GREAT LAW OF LIFE. A COMMON MISFORTUNE HAD BROKEN DOWN THE RACIAL, AND NATIONAL BARRIERS. IN THE COMMON TRAGEDY OF THEIR LEPROSY THEY HAD FORGOTTEN THEY WERE JEWS, AND SAMARITANS, AND REMEMBERED ONLY THAT THEY WERE MEN IN NEED.

 

IF FLOOD SURGES OVER A PIECE OF COUNTRY, AND THE WILD ANIMALS CONGREGATE FOR SAFETY ON SOME LITTLE BIT OF HIGHER GROUND, YOU WILL FIND STANDING PEACEFULLY TOGETHER ANIMALS WHO ARE NATURAL ENEMIES, AND WHO AT ANY OTHER TIME WOULD DO THEIR BEST TO KILL EACH OTHER. SURELY ONE OF THE THINGS WHICH DRAWS ALL MEN TOGETHER IS THEIR COMMON NEED OF GOD.

 

THE LEPERS STOOD FAR OFF. THERE WAS NO SPECIFIED DISTANCE AT WHICH THEY SHOULD STAND, BUT WE KNOW THAT AT LEAST ONE AUTHORITY LAID IT DOWN THAT WHEN HE WAS WINDWARD OF A HEALTHY PERSON, THE LEPER SHOULD STAND AT LEAST FIFTY YARDS AWAY, AND NOTHING COULD BETTER SHOW THE UTTER ISOLATION IN WHICH LEPERS LIVED.

NO STORY IN ALL THE GOSPELS SO POIGNANTLY SHOWS MAN'S INGRATITUDE. THE LEPERS CAME TO JESUS WITH DESPERATE LONGING; HE CURED THEM; NINE NEVER CAME BACK TO GIVE THANKS. SO OFTEN, ONCE A PERSON HAS RECEIVED WHAT IS WANTED, HE NEVER MAKES AN EFFORT TO SAY THANK YOU.

 

(1^ST) OFTEN WE ARE UNGRATEFUL TO OUR PARENTS. THERE WAS A TIME IN OUR LIVES WHEN A WEEK'S NEGLECT WOULD HAVE KILLED US.  OF ALL LIVING CREATURES MAN REQUIRES LONGEST TO BECOME ABLE TO MEET THE NEEDS ESSENTIAL FOR LIFE. THERE WERE YEARS WHEN WE WERE DEPENDENT ON OUR PARENTS FOR LITERALLY EVERYTHING. YET, THE DAY OFTEN COMES WHEN AN AGED ONE IS A NUISANCE; AND MANY YOUNG PEOPLE ARE UNWILLING TO REPAY THE DEBT THEY OWE.(2^ND) WE ARE OFTEN UNGRATEFUL TO OUR FELLOW-MEN. FEW OF US HAVE NOT, AT SOME TIME, OWED A GREAT DEAL TO A FELLOW MAN. FEW OF US AT THE MOMENT, BELIEVED WE COULD NEVER FORGET; BUT FEW OF US, IN THE END, SATISFY THE DEBT OF GRATITUDE WE OWE.(3^RD) OFTEN WE ARE UNGRATEFUL TO GOD. IN SOME TIME OF BITTER NEED, WE PRAY WITH DESPERATE INTENSITY; THE TIME PASSES, AND WE FORGET GOD. MANY NEVER EVEN OFFER GRACE BEFORE MEAL. "BLESS THE LORD, O, MY SOUL, AND FORGET NOT ALL HIS BENEFITS" (Psalm 103:2).

Life Application: Do you have any 'unpaid' debts of gratitude that need yet to be paid? Start with thanking God for all His benefits showered upon you. We take so much for granted, but God loves to hear us say, "Thank You!" So do the people who have blessed us along the way!  

 

Prayer/Paise: Dear Father, please forgive me for not being grateful for all Your benefits. You have blessed me over, and over again. I don't want to forget the blessings that You have poured upon me. I rejoice as I remember Your blessings. Amen!