I often joke in the life of the church, once we pass Halloween and the “Fall Fest” Season, it’s a straight shot to Christmas. Everything picks up, our schedules fill up, and before you know it, it’s Christmas Eve, and … Continue reading
Today, you’ve been forgiven.
Now, you have to accept that forgiveness. For it to make a difference in your life, you’ve got to accept it, internalize it, believe it for yourself.
Allow it make a difference in your life and in your soul.
But, you’ve been forgiven. The work is done. The price is paid. The effort is fulfilled.
Will you give thanks today? Listen to the story we see today in Luke 17:15-19:
Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”
Jesus heals 10 lepers. He tells them to go and present themselves, for in that day to be fully “cleansed” you had to present yourself to the priests.
So, all 10 do that.
And only 1 returns to give thanks. Only 1 returns to Jesus to thank Him for their healing and their new life. Only one returns to show a thankful heart for what God has done.
Today, you’ve been forgiven. Today, grace is available and ready for you. Today, mercy and hope and new life are there for you.
And if you’ve received it, have you returned to God to say thank you?
He loves you. He heals our brokenness. He gives us love.
And out of thankful hearts we should stop. Pause. And say thank you.
Of the 10 folks healed, only 1 returned. Today, will we be 9? Or will we be the 1?
Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.
Happy thanksgiving to everyone! I hope that reading these thoughts has been a blessing to you throughout the year. As I tell folks, I’m always amazed when God uses them to speak to someone, they started off simply as a means to keep myself accountable. If I had do send out a daily devotional, it make sure that I spent some time each day reading the Word.
So, thanks for reading.
And may each of you have a Happy Thanksgiving. I am thankful for you each.
Today, two quick thoughts on Thanksgiving. First, one from our favorite writer CS Lewis –
We ought to give thanks for all fortune: if it is “good,” because is it good, if “bad” because it works in us patience, humility, and the contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country.
May, in each of our circumstances today, we give thanks. For the good and the bad, as difficult as it may be. For in all things God is at work for our good and His glory (Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28)
And from the book of Lamentations 3:22-24:
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. “The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”
Morning by morning, new mercies I see. Great is God’s faithfulness. Today, God really is faithful to us. May we remember that, may we see that, and may we be thankful, today, and each day.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Don’t forget, you can click here to download Asbury’s mobile app and read these devotionals, as well as listen to my sermons on your smart phones.
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