Earlier this week I heard some announcers on a sports radio station discussing the Thanksgiving holiday on Monday. One of them said that he didn’t celebrate it this year. I’m glad that governments in Canada haven’t decided to change the name of this holiday, even though many people don’t seem to want to talk about the Giver of all that we enjoy. According to an article in the Canadian Encyclopedia, Sir Martin Frobisher and his crew celebrated Communion and listened to a sermon by the ship’s chaplain upon their arrival in Newfoundland in 1578: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/thanksgiving-day. At our church’s small group on Tuesday, we looked at the story of the ten lepers who were healed by Jesus. It is interesting that these men recognized Jesus as He approached them: “…they lifted up their voices and said, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’” (Luke 17:13). The book of Leviticus contains many instructions concerning lepers, including isolating them from others. I wonder how news about Jesus reached the ten lepers. After hearing the lepers’ pleas, Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priests. In his Study Bible, Dr. David Jeremiah explains the significance of this: “… He was instructing them to get a certificate of release indicating that they were free of disease (Deuteronomy 24:8; Matthew 8:4). As they followed His instructions, they were cleansed. He did not heal them on the spot. He did not heal them in a distant spot. He healed them as they moved to obey His orders.” Is there something that you are considering doing for the Lord, but you are hesitant for one reason or another? There is an expression “You can’t steer a parked car.” Start to do something for God and He will direct you and even bring you surprises along the way. Last summer, I was sitting on a large rock outside our office, when I saw a former neighbour talking with the mechanic next door. I had talked to Bruno about the Lord years before and didn’t know where he had moved. To my great surprise, he showed me his employment card from Mexico, where he now works. I invited him to see the recording studio and was able to tell him about the radio ministry. In Luke 17, the good news of the healing of the ten lepers is followed by the sad news that only one of the men returned to thank Jesus. Luke records “And he was a Samaritan” (v. 16). Jews looked down on Samaritans, but in this case the grateful leper is identified as a Samaritan. Dr. Jeremiah observes: “Out of all those who had been healed, the one knowing the least about Jesus returned to thank Him. The most religious people are not always the ones who see life’s graces or think to say thanks.” Praise God for His wonderful love and mercy!
By His grace, Steve