The lepers among us

A week ago Sunday in the fifth grade Sunday School class the lesson was on the group of lepers that approached  Jesus.  They came to Jesus for healing and He healed them.

Luke 17:11-19

New King James Version (NKJV)

Ten Lepers Cleansed

11 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.
15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.
17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.

At this time in history, lepers were kept in colonies away from others and skin lesions were one of the signs of leprosy.  Jesus had mercy on them and healed them!

The lesson reminded me of a time when my skin was covered with sores and flaking from the effects of psoriasis'.  I was in a store at a mall in Oklahoma City and I had a feeling that someone was watching me.  Than I saw that someone was following me.  I walked out of the door of that store and I heard a voice asking me to wait.  I stopped and a woman came up to me and ask me if I was contagious.  I told her no but she continued to ask questions.  I told her that I had psoriasis and offered to give her the number of my Doctor and she would not take it but I could tell she did not believe me.  I finally just walked away from her feeling humiliated and ugly.  I felt like a leper!

The memory made me wonder how many are there that feel like lepers and are walking among us.  Do they feel unwanted and outcast?  Do I judge others by how they look?  Do I judge others by what they wear?  Do I judge others by how they smell?  Do I judge others because they look contagious? Have I made others to feel like a leper??

I know that I have? How many lepers have I made feel ugly and humiliated? I need to love like Jesus!!  He does not care what a person wears, how they look, if they have leprosy, how they smell or if they are contagious?

What about you?  How have you treated the lepers among us??

John 13:34-35

New King James Version (NKJV)

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

How beautiful are your feet?

                                     How beautiful are your feet?  I think mine are pretty ugly!!

After many years of walking on my feet, stepping on nails, splinters and gravel, breaking and stubbing toes, suffering a very painful avulsion fracture and then arthritis settling in several toes my feet could be worse.  I think they are ugly though!  My feet can still be used though!! My feet can take me to spread the good news!  

The Good News is that Jesus is Lord and Savior!  He came to earth for you and for me!! He died and rose again because of our sin.  What Christ suffered is beyond my comprehension!   When He knocks will you open your heart and let Him in!!  

Revelation 3:19-20

New International Version (NIV)

19 Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. 20 Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me

John 14:6

New International Version (NIV)

6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

If God calls me to tell the good news, even if it is walking to the computer and posting about the Good News, going on Mission trips or telling my next door neighbor I should do it!!  

What about you?  Has God ask you to spread the good news?  How beautiful are your feet?

Romans 10:15

New Living Translation (NLT)

15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”

REMINDER

In the midst of all the chaos and confusion of our world I wanted to remind myself and you whom we serve!

John 13:5-9

New International Version (NIV)

⁵ After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
⁶ He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
⁷ Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
⁸ “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
⁹ “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

John 13:34-35

New International Version (NIV)

³⁴ “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

The evidence and the recent happenings, even in the United States, show us that satin is alive and well and has many followers but we have to remember this.

The devil will not win!!!  

Praying for the families of the Boston Marathon who lost loved ones and the many injured!

Merry Christmas!

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”Isaiah 9:6 NIV

                              What a wonderful gift to all the gift that was foretold in Isaiah!!

I bought the pictured Nativity set in Israel in 2008.  It is made of native olive wood.  I still remember the thoughts and the awe I felt while walking the streets and paths that Jesus had walked.  The only thing that could be better than walking the streets of Israel  will be when I walk the streets in Heaven.  I will walk in Heaven when I die because of the gift that was given for all who accept.  It started with the babe born in a manager.  He was born to die for you and me and he rose again paving the way so that we can walk in heaven someday!

                                             Have you accepted that gift??

John 3:16-17

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

                                MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!