PENTECOST • 19

How do we live by faith and what is the source of our faith?

SONGS FOR PRAYER

SET PRAYER

O God of compassion,

through the witness of a captive maidservant

you healed Naaman in the waters of the Jordan.

Through Jesus you healed the lepers.

Heal us so that we may follow Christ with joy,

giving thanks with all our being. Amen.

reading for: Tuesday Night, 4 October

Luke 17:11-19

Faith Shown in Gratitude

  • READ

    Do you ever think about having gratitude as having faith? In other words, to have gratitude towards God is to exercise our faith in Him.

    We start off this short account with Luke reminding us that Jesus is on his way towards Jerusalem. But as he reaches a village at the border of Samaria and Galilee, 10 lepers cry out to him, asking him for mercy (v. 11-12). Because of the geographical location that we’re told, its very likely that 9 out of the 10 lepers were Israelites, since we find out later that the 1 who returned to give thanks was a Samaritan.

    Notice that Jesus gives all 10 lepers the same instructions. They were to show themselves to the priests who could declare them clean and healed. And as they obeyed his words, all 10 of them were healed (v. 14)!

    But only 1 turned back and praised God with a loud voice. Only 1 fell at Jesus’ feet and showed his gratitude (v. 16).

    The distinguishing factor of this man wasn’t that only he received the healing, in fact, he exceeded social expectations by recognising and thanking Jesus, a Jew. Like the only one who helped the man who was robbed and left to die (Luke 10), this Samaritan exceeded all expectations and showed a kind of faith that is desired of us.

  • REFLECT

    We often think of faith as trusting God for a miracle to happen. But the story here wants us to see another aspect of faith. Faith shows gratitude to the Giver and Healer. All 9 former lepers were not affirmed of their faith, but it was this one Samaritan who actually turned to God and praised Him. It was this 1 leper who fell as Jesus’ feet to give Him thanks.

    When was the last time you came before the Lord and showed Him gratitude for all that He has done in your life? We are in the final 4th quarter of 2022. 9 months have passed and we have certainly experienced many of God’s miracles in our lives. But have we taken the time to give thanks and show him gratitude? This is the faith that will make us well.

    Take some time to list out a few significant moments in 2022. Where was the Lord in it? How did He reveal His presence and show His faithfulness to you? And as you are reminded of God’s action and love in your life, take time to show Him your gratitude.

reading for: Wednesday Night, 5 October

2 Kings 5:1-3, 7-15c

The Servants of Faith

  • READ

We normally expect pastors, teachers, leaders to be great examples of faith. But is that always the case?

In this story, Naaman is a great commander of an army. He didn’t just hold a high position in the army, but we’re told that he was a great man who was highly favoured by his master because of all the victories the LORD had given to him (v.1). The only blemish on his record was that he was a leper.

The other prominent character is of course Elisha, the man of God and prophet who had double the anointing of his master Elijah. Hearing that the king had torn his clothes in anguish over a request for healing, Elisha simply asks for Naaman to be sent to him. “No worries about this small matter! Let me show him the power of the LORD” (v.8).

Yet it is none of them that we see great faith coming from.

The first surprise comes from a young little girl, a prisoner of war, who was captured and made to serve as a maid to Naaman’s wife. As a prisoner of war and servant, she could have just done her duty until the day she was released. Or perhaps she could have plotted a way to escape. But she actually seeks the good of her master (Naaman) and desires for him to be healed. And even gives a recommendation to see the renown Elisha.

The second surprise comes right after Naaman is stumbled by Elisha’s instructions (v. 10-11). Naaman is shocked that Elisha didn’t even come out to see him and didn’t wave his leprosy away.  He’s even stumbled by the river that he was told to wash in. Once again, its his servants who were travelling with him then that stopped and reasoned with him. They helped Naaman see that this simple instruction from Elisha, was in fact an extremely difficult one. Because it required great faith to carry out. It was in its utter simplicity that made it so utterly difficult.

And as Naaman was healed, they returned (not coincidentally like the Samaritan in Luke 17) to showed their gratitude to Elisha, the man and servant of God.

  • REFLECT

    God has chosen to surround us with people to point us to Him. To remind us to trust and put our faith in Him, especially when our circumstances get difficult. Remember Abigail who pleaded with David when he was about to go on a killing rampage? (1 Sam 25:28) Or Jethro who gave Moses an insight on how to better execute his responsibilities (Exodus 18)?

    These individuals are people that God has placed in our lives to give us a timely word to point us to Him. These individuals are great exemplars of faith that we often miss out on. Yet through them God uses to point us in the direction of trusting and following God.

    You might be going through a difficult and trying time right now. And even as you prepare yourself to hear and move in God’s leading, has He already spoken to you through someone?

    God often uses people that we least expect and those close to us. Pray and ask the Lord to open your heart to receive His word and leading through His appointed servant in your life.

reading for: Thursday Night, 6 October

2 Timothy 2:8-15

The Faithful God

  • READ

    Who do you look to in difficult times? And what is your source of hope?

    Paul is in prison and he is chained like a criminal and suffering hardship (v. 9). He had earlier told Timothy to endure suffering with him like a soldier of Jesus, and now, he is sharing with Timothy the basis of his hope. Jesus Christ, the one who was raised from the dead, the descendant of David, is his source of hope. And Paul, urges Timothy to also place his hope in Jesus.

    Why? This hymn that Paul quotes tells us why,

    The source of Paul’s hope is that even if he dies, as long as its for Jesus and with Jesus, he is assured that He will be raised to new life (v. 11) So even in death he need not fear.

    His hope in hardship is that by persevering, one day the hardship will end when Jesus returns and he will be seated with Jesus (v. 12) So even in hardship he can endure.

    And although the need to accept Jesus is necessary for everyone (an individual choice made freely), He will remain faithful, even if we are unfaithful. For this is the character of Jesus (v. 12-13). So we need not rely on our own ability to do right and act right, but rely on God’s character who is faithful.

    This faithful God that Paul has seen in his own life (2 Tim 1:9-10), this faithful God that he has seen throughout the Old Testament, is his source of hope. Where even in his darkest times when he becomes unfaithful, God’s faithfulness is the one and only firm foundation.

  • REFLECT

    In difficult times we either look for someone to blame or find some way to numb ourselves. Whether its through shopping therapy or binge watching Netflix shows, we find some way to cope in difficult times. Yet Paul reminds us that we need to remember Jesus. He alone is the source of our hope and strength, He alone is our foundation that will anchor us at all times.

    He who is faithful, will remain faithful, even if we are unfaithful. This isn’t to give us the allowance to do anything we want and live our lives haphazardly. Rather, its to affirm us and anchor us that in Jesus, we can always trust in His faithfulness.

    The hymn/saying (v. 11-13) is worth meditating and memorising - take time this week to repeat this hymn several times a day, mediating on it.

reading for: Friday Night, 7 October

Psalm 111

The Praiseworthy Faithful God

  • READ

    Psalm 111 is often taken together with Psalm 112 as both Psalms have a unique structure in the Hebrew. Each of the 22 lines in Hebrew actually starts with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. On the one hand it was used to help with memorisation, but on the other hand there is an emphasis on how praise worthy this faithful God is.

    The entire Psalm can be seen as reasons that make this God so worthy of our praise.

    His works are great (v. 2), everything He does reveals His glory and majesty (v. 3).

    His righteousness never fails.

    He will remind us of His wonderful works for He is gracious and merciful (v. 4)

    He provides food for all who fear Him because He is faithful to His covenant (v. 5)

    His great power is seen in how He gives land to His people (v. 6)

    Everything He does is good and faithful, His Word is trustworthy (v. 7).

    They are worthy of our pursuit and obedience (v. 8)

    He has redeemed His people and how holy and awesome His name is (v. 9).

    Fearing this God is the beginning of wisdom, and in following His commandments we will grow and keep praising Him (v. 10).

    This is our faithful God who is praiseworthy!

  • REFLECT

    What is your first thought when you think about God?

    Do you think of Him as someone who is praiseworthy because of all the wonderful things He has done?

    Do you see Him as gracious and merciful?

    The best way to interact with this Psalm is to actually read it at least a few times. To allow the word and truth of who God is sink deep into our hearts.

    If you have an audio bible, play this Psalm and listen to it a few times with your eyes closed. And allow the Holy Spirit to fill your heart and mind with this faithful God who is truly praiseworthy.

Season of PentecostCNL