Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today – March 17, 2015
Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well. Luke 17:18-19, NASB
Grateful faith gets to the heart of the matter. It engages God’s heart and it heals my heart. Before I met Jesus: I was a broken boy, from a broken home in need of wholeness in my body, soul and mind. I was spiritually sick and in need of a Savior, but for years I was the walking dead—unaware of my soul’s unhealthy condition. Too busy to pray—I busied myself with school, sports and social events. But in the middle of a teenage crisis (a car accident) I prayed. I needed to change before I severely hurt myself or someone else. The Lord began the process of healing my broken heart.
Jesus showed mercy to ten sick lepers by healing their disease on their way to meet with the spiritual authority of their day. Christ knew their physical healing was an opportunity to experience God. Desperate to rid themselves of their debilitating disease, these social outcasts obeyed the Lord’s command. All ten started by calling on Jesus, but only one (who also suffered from racial rejection) went back to his Savior and Lord to personally thank Him. Those who hurt the deepest are able to experience a deeper work of grace that compels them to praise God.
“Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago” (Isaiah 25:1).
Have you been marginalized because of your race, gender or religion? Are you in need of spiritual, emotional or physical wholeness? Your salvation in Christ is only the beginning of His work of grace in your life. Some old habits are transformed in an instant—but others take years to change. Perhaps there are childhood/teenage hurts you ignore—they still thrash around in your soul. Emotions buried alive manifest themselves in unhealthy expressions. If so, humble yourself and meet with a good Christian counselor. Grateful faith gets help that facilitates God’s healing.
Moreover, be intentional to express grateful faith to God and others. Praise Him for His perfect faithfulness, for His wonderful works and for His plans He established long ago—just for you. Thank the Lord for healing your heart wounded by sin, sorrow and death. Grateful faith keeps you from taking for granted God’s blessings. The Lord’s wholeness in your life gives you the capacity to love and thank others. You are blessed to be a blessing. You are forgiven to forgive. You are accepted to accept others. Your grateful faith qualifies you for wholeness and holiness.
“Giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light” (Colossians 1:12).
Prayer: Heavenly Father, grow my grateful faith so I can grow into a healthy Jesus follower.
Related Readings: Genesis 24:27; Psalm 71:22, 144:9; Mark 5:34; Acts 3:16; 1 Corinthians 12:9
Post/Tweet this today: Those who hurt the deepest are able to experience a deeper work of grace that compels them to praise God.. #gratefulfaith #wisdomhunters
Additional Resource: 4 minute music video- Gaither’s: Praise the Lord
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I enjoyed the reading and gives me a deeper understanding of God’s word.
Dear Victoria~
Thank you for contacting us with those encouraging words. We are so thankful that you were blessed by the devotional, “Grateful Faith Brings Wholeness.” AND we give all the Glory to God!!!
I have to admit that when Boyd writes on gratefulness, it nudges me to “crank up” my gratefulness to the ONE who created all, the One who writes our stories, the One who breathed the world into existence! The flesh has a tendency, sometimes, to push our thankfulness back and focus on our concerns and needs. (I am speaking for myself here). So, I appreciate and NEED these reminders.
Not only are we praising God with our thankfulness but look at the “benefits”:
“Grateful faith keeps you from taking for granted God’s blessings.”
“Grateful faith facilitates God’s healing.”
“The Lord’s wholeness in your life gives you the capacity to love and thank others.”
Thank you, Lord!!
We are so thankful for you, Victoria, and look forward to hearing from you again.
Blessings to you and yours,
Gwynne
“And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.” Colossians 1: 10-12