1 OUT OF 10

Image result for CLIP ART SHOWING 1 OUT OF 10When I was in the classroom as the educator/facilitator i never thought that the results of 1 out of 10 was the data I wanted when reviewing test grades or assessing understanding of an objective to have been taught.  That seemed like negative data which meant, I was going to be reteaching again and maybe again. (I well remember when I introduced "long division" which blew most of the students' brain circuits, and the time period allotted, had failed to take into account that these fourth graders did not know their multiplication math facts so to proceed into division was going to be a challenge, and it was.)  1/10 is not always the best data! Can we put a value on the results of 1 who does understand and perform well?   

As I was reading Luke 17, Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem.  He was traveling along the border of Samaria and Galilee.  As He entered a village, there were 10 men who met Him...10 men who had the hellish disease of leprosy.  Even though they stood at a distance from the Lord, they cried out, loudly and in desperation, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"  Upon seeing them, He directed them to go the priests and "as they were going, they were cleansed."  All 10 left Jesus' sight, but 1 returned to Jesus because as he was going, he realized he had been healed.  He fell at Jesus' feet and THANKED Him, and he was also praising God for his healing.  The one who returned was a Samaritan, and not only was he healed, but Jesus replied to his thanksgiving and praise, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well." 

The thanksgiving and the praise of the Samaritan leper resulted not only in his healing, but in his salvation.  I wonder, do you think that he told somebody of this miraculous work in his life?  The purpose of God on the heart of 1 man, woman, or child can have invaluable data results for His kingdom.  The narrative is a reminder of the blessings of obedience, thanksgiving, and praise.   The story is told of Matthew Henry, an elderly Bible commentator.  He was robbed of his wallet and this is what he entered in his prayer journal for the day:  I am thankful: I have never been robbed before.  The man took my wallet and not life. What was in the wallet wasn't much.  I was the one robbed and I was not the robber.  Love this testimony of being thankful.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, "Be joyful always; Pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."   Forever learning.  In process.  #IHAVETHREESONS.  

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THOSE SEEING CAN BECOME BLIND

Image
John 9 is the story of the healing of the blind beggar.  Not only is it a marvelous story of the miraculous healing of the man as he is given his sight, but a sad story of the religious of whom Jesus said, "For judgment, I have come into this world, so that the blind will see, and those who see will become blind ." The religious have seen the miracle, even though it has taken place on a Sabbath, and they interview the man and his parents for their stories and understanding. I find it so thrilling that the healed man speaks so articulately and logically with the religious in their "interview" with him.  His statement, " Now that is remarkable!  You don't know where HE comes from, yet HE opened my eyes.  We know that God does not listen to sinners.  He listens to the godly man who does His will.  Nobody has ever heard of opening the eyes of a man born blind. If this man were not from God, He could do nothing." What truth he has spoken to the religious wh...
Read more

DAVID, A KING IN WAITING

Image
  1 Samuel 16 opens with Samuel grieving over Saul and God is asking him how long he is going to grieve over Saul. Without answering, God gives Samuel the directive to go to Bethlehem to the home of Jesse and there "God has selected a king for Myself among his sons."  Of course, Samuel is fearful that Saul will hear and may kill Samuel.  God does not respond to Samuel's  question.  Samson is instructed to go to Bethlehem and offer a sacrifice of a heifer and invite Jesse and his sons to the sacrifice.  Each of the sons are called before Samuel.  The Lord has already reminded Samuel that HE does not see as man sees for God looks at the heart.  None of the sons are chosen, and when asked if there is another son, Jesse states that the youngest son, David, is tending the sheep.  Samuel requests that David come before him.  God speaks to Samuel and affirms that this is the one, He has chosen, and commands Samuel to anoint him with the horn ...
Read more

WALK IT OUT!

Image
        I dearly love the narratives of the Old Testament.  The Holy Spirit is able to give this fallible, finite, and sometimes floundering Christ follower, a Truth that seems to be so very practical for what might be going on in my life right now.  I so needed the Shunammite woman's statement of faith, "It is well/It will be well" whether she knew she had faith or not! The rest of the story: She gets to Elisha and Gehazi tries to push her away, but not to be deterred from her mission, she takes hold of Elisha's feet.  She reminds him that she asked for a son, a son was given, and her interesting question,  didn't I tell you, "Don't raise my hopes?"  Gehazi is instructed to take Elisha's staff and lay the staff on the boy's face.  She demands that Elisha go with her also.  Gehazi gets to the home first...again, 25 miles!  He does what he has been instructed and runs back to meet Elisha to tell him , "The boy has not...
Read more