Beyond our control!

Welcome to “Word from The Center” MONDAY, a devotional word from the Center of our faith, Jesus Christ, with reflections from His Word. I’m Gregory Seltz. Today’s reading is from Luke 17:11-19 which says,    

[11] On the way to Jerusalem [Jesus] was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. [12] And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance [13] and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” [14] When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. [15] Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; [16] and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. [17] Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? [18] Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” [19] And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.

If there is one temptation that is especially common today, it comes when we think of ourselves as “moderns.” It is the notion that there is no problem or issue that we cannot engage and solve. Right? Come on now, be honest. Virtually every commercial out there proclaims that there is nothing you cannot do! So just do it! You can handle it! You have access to more information today than ever before. We can save the planet. We can heal the diseases. We can do whatever we put our minds to. That sure sounds good, but it neglects one vital aspect of our human nature. We are sinners. Even though God created humanity very good, sin brought rebellion, brokenness, and death into our lives. The Bible says that there is no one who is sinless, not even one (see Romans 3:1-12, 23). And the wages of sin (the payment for that kind of life)….. is death (Romans 6:23). Yes, that’s right, death now, death forever.

But that’s not the end of the story, at least from God’s point of view. Just look at our lesson for today. Jesus engages some guys with leprosy. Being a leper in 1st century Israel was like living with a “death sentence” each and every day of your life. You were to be quarantined, separate, and, if people came near, you were to yell out, “Unclean, unclean!” It was a humiliating, spirit-crushing, no-hope life, each and every day. That is until Jesus comes long and engages them. Check out the lesson and see how one of them got the whole story. He realized that his physical condition wasn’t the only problem he had. He realized that he needed a Savior, body and soul. And when he met Jesus, he found just that. He received healing, joy and life with thanksgiving, when before there was only sin and death; that’s Jesus offer to you too.

So, if you are facing things that are beyond your control today, or if you just feel like life in general is out of whack, realize like that one Samaritan leper that a Savior has come for you too.

PRAYER: Dear Lord Jesus, so much seems out of my control. Even when I’m trying to do things right, it seems that more often things go wrong. Give me the joy of the one Samaritan leper who saw you as the center of one’s faith and life, now and forever. AMEN.