Where are the nine?

In Luke chapter 17 Jesus went into a certain village and ten lepers from a distance cried at the top of their lungs, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." Jesus had compassion on them and told them to go show themselves unto the priest so that they could be declared healed. As the ten lepers started out to see the priest, they were healed. And one of them when he saw that he was healed turned around and with a loud voice glorified God, falling on his face at Jesus' feet giving him thanks. Scripture says in verse 16, "... and he was a Samaritan." In verse 17 Jesus says, "... Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?" Let me ask the same question, where are the nine? Are they filling the churches across the land, teaching Sunday School classes, functioning in leadership positions, etc.. Each one of us that has been born again were as the lepers were and Jesus cleansed and saved us all. Are we at Jesus' feet worshiping or are we so wrapped up in ourselves that we haven't the time or will to worship our Lord Jesus Christ? Where are the nine? Well they are mostly attending Church meetings across the land, but that is not the question. The question is, are we the one out of ten who returns daily to worship the one who saved us and cleansed us and set us free? As fearful and dreadful as it sounds, is it possible that 90 percent of those in churches are the lukewarm that Jesus said he would spew out of his mouth (Revelation 3:16)?

The Key!

The bench he was sitting on was really hard and time seemed to be standing still. He was beginning to feel anxious about his life. He heard footsteps approaching and then the footsteps stopped in front of the doorway and a man said, "Would you like something to read?" He told him that he would and he was handed a book and the man walked away. He looked at the book and opened it to find that he had been handed a Bible. He randomly opened it and began to read these words out of John 8: 31 -32, "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, if ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed: and ye shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free." A light shone in his heart and it felt as if his guard had handed him a key to his cell. He read more and more out of the Bible and soon he was free, just as if he had never sinned. Later when he was released from prison he left with a call in his heart to tell everyone what Jesus had done for him, and to tell them that the Word of God is the key to freedom in their lives. Has he talked to you yet? If he has, are you a freed prisoner coming out of your cell with a call in your heart. Will you share your freedom with others? Freely we have received and freely we must give. Love and Grace to you.

Someday is payday!

It may not be today or tomorrow, but it is someday. Sooner or later it will come and of that we can be sure. In scripture it says in Romans 6: 23, "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." and in Galatians 6: 7 it says, "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." If we sow good seed, we reap good. If we sow bad seed, we reap bad. It just doesn't always happen by tomorrow but someday is payday and of this we can be sure. What will your payday yield?

They all forsook him, and fled.

The word tells us how Jesus was taken captive by a great multitude with swords and staves, sent by the chief priest and the scribes and the elders.(See Mark 14: 43 and following). Judas betrayed Christ with a kiss, and Jesus was taken captive. In Verse 50 of Mark 14 it says, "And they all forsook him, and fled. It seems true that it is still happening today, that when trouble comes Christians run over one another forsaking Christ and fleeing to what they might call greener pastures. Let's all be careful not to forsake Christ nor one another. Have you ever forsaken Christ? It can happen as we are given an opportunity to speak up for Christ, and instead of speaking for him our message is abundantly clear as we flee the uncomfortable situation. Are we free to speak about Christ and introduce Him to others? God's will is that all be saved. Jesus is still the answer to man's problems and contrary to what many think, Jesus still Saves!

If the Lord wills

James 4:13 - 15 says, "Go to now, ye that say, today or tomorrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year and buy and sell, and get gain: whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appeareath for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, if the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that." Where are you going tomorrow? I'm going fishing, that is, if the Lord wills.

What is on your list?

Do you have a wish or want list? The kind of list where you list the things that you want and wish that you had. What would be on your list if you had one? Maybe a new car or a larger home or a husband or wife or kids or a pet, etc. What should be on our list? Should we even have one? In I Timothy 6:6 - 8 it says, "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment (clothing), let us be therewith content." I can see it now, the want/wish list having on it such things as: new socks or one dozen eggs or brussels sprouts or milk, etc. I'm not 100% certain of the answers to the questions that I just posed, but I know God's word wants us content and not always striving like those in the world who want more and more. Hebrews 13:5 throws light on the subject. It says, "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee." Blessings to you.

Just any day now!

In Proverbs 15:3 it says, "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good." God sees all and God knows all and God is all powerful and he will take care of all the evil that is going on around us. In the same chapter of Proverbs in verse 29 it says, "The Lord is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous." As we await the Lords return we are told to watch and pray and be sober. Let's lay the burdens of our hearts out before the Lord and leave them all with him. Daily we should be looking for and anticipating his return for just any day now our Lord is coming.