Warriors Arise: October 28, 2021
Luke 17:11-19 (NKJV) 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.”
This might be the most difficult step for me, "Show yourself to the priests." My personality is not to be seen; however, God has gifted me to lead. So, that puts me up front many times when I would rather be behind the scenes. I'm not sure if I am gifted as a leader or if it is that I grew up assisting my dad in his leadership roles. He didn't necessarily train me, but because was so involved in what he was doing, I saw demonstrated before me in multiple situations and year after year outstanding leadership. He is a lot like cream. There may be times when a situation gets all shook up and foggy at times, but when the storm settles, His leadership, trust in God, and character developed by his obedience to God, brings the cream to the top. I had the privilege of seeing how he led before the storm, through the storm and after the storm. This has definitely been a blessing to enhance my ability to lead the areas God calls me to lead.
When Jesus tells the lepers, "Go, show yourselves to the priests” it calls for a whole new level of trust. Jesus doesn't heal them before He gives the command. He tells them what to do and they have to believe that in their going, they will be healed. They knew the procedure. They knew to be allowed back into society, they would have to be declared clean by the priests.
Maybe you have felt like you have been cast away like these lepers. Maybe society has said you were unclean, not good enough, have little to offer, and are of no value. But then you encountered Jesus and he sends you back to the very people who condemned you, who declared you must leave. Have you called out to Jesus? What did He say? Did He tell you to return?
Maybe you are one who held the power to condemn someone. Maybe you rejected someone, pushed them away, or didn't see the value in what they had to offer. Are you ready to receive them back? Are you ready to declare they are clean? Are you ready to be a part of God's hand to bring restoration to the community and reconciliation in their relationships? Is someone waiting to hear you say they are restored, they can be reconciled?
Father, to think that we have the ability to cast someone away seems like too much power for an individual to have. However, we can see this being done nearly every day. There is nothing but division and loss of fulfilled purpose when this happens. I ask for You to come and declare the unclean to be restored to their community, church, and family in the name of Jesus. I pray for the unclean to desire to return and seek You to be cleansed from anything that has held them back and the words of rejection others have spoken over them. I ask for You to bring complete wholeness to their body, soul and spirit. I pray for complete restoration to purpose and reconciliation to community, church and family in Jesus' name amen.
A Warrior in the Lord’s Army,
Veridee Joy Hand
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