The Lord is my light and my salvation, so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? Psalm 27:1
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9
On His way to Jerusalem, ten lepers approached Jesus, and while keeping their distance, they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” Jesus said to them, “Go show yourselves to the priest.” As they went, they were made clean. One of the lepers, a Samaritan, when he saw that he was healed, turned back praising God with a loud voice. Luke 17
My brothers and sisters in Christ, many times we were sick or in trouble and called out to Jesus to heal us, and when he hears and answers our prayers, we forget to say, ‘Thank you, Jesus!’ No matter how simple the situation may be, we must always get in the habit of saying ‘Thank you, Lord!’ We must not be like the other nine lepers who were healed; but forgot to thank the healer. I have learned to say ‘Thank you, Lord, in advance, and wait.
A man with leprosy came and knelt before Jesus and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said, “Be clean!” Immediately, he was cleansed of his leprosy. Matthew 8
It takes great faith, a little humility, and the willingness of God, to heal us from whatever ails us. My brothers and sisters in Christ, are you faithful enough, humble enough, to ask God to heal you this morning, and believe that he is willing and able to heal you? Let us be like that leper, who knelt before Jesus and said, “Lord if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Know that whatever God wills he does; nothing could be added to it, and nothing could be taken away from it. Believe in your heart that he is willing and able.
To serve God is to serve others. “I have set you an example so that you should do as I have done for you. Truly, truly, I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.” John 13:15
“O Jesus, I have promised, to serve thee to the end; be thou forever near me, my Master and my friend; I shall not fear the battle if thou art by my side, nor wander from the pathway, if thou wilt be my guide.”
If Jesus should call you into his service now, what will your answer be? Would you have the desire to follow him, or would you be reluctant?
My brothers and sisters in Christ, it does not matter where or when we serve the Lord, but how we serve the Lord and our willingness to answer his call. I could remember when God called me into his service, I was reluctant, I found every excuse as to why I could not do what he asked. But my mother’s words of wisdom to me were, “If God is asking you to do something, know that he has already equipped you, for whom God calls he prepares”. Since I answered the call to serve him, time would not allow me to tell you, all that the Lord has asked of me, and how he led me all the way. To God be the glory!
When Jesus called his first disciples to follow him and be fishers of men, they immediately left what they were doing and followed him. How many of us would be willing to leave what we are doing when we hear the call of Jesus, follow him, and be fishers of men?
My brothers and sisters in Christ, where you are right now, you may be casting your nets but not bringing in any good catch. Know that who we are following and where we are casting our nets are equally important. If we are casting our nets and we are not winning any souls for God, it is time to pull up anchor, change direction, and follow Jesus, who will make us successful fishers of men.
I am the Lord, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed. Malachi 3:6
What an awesome God we serve! “God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?” Lord, we are so thankful that you never deal with us as we deserve. We change like changing years, but you change not. To God be the glory!
Lead me in thy truth and teach me, for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait, all the day long. Psalm 25:5
Teach me Your way, O Lord, that I may walk in Your truth. Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name. I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore. Psalm 86
Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart. For I am always aware of your unfailing love, and I have lived according to your truth. Psalm 26
Do good, O Lord, unto those that are good, and to them that are upright in their hearts. But those who turn to crooked ways the Lord will banish with the evildoers. Peace be upon Israel. Psalm 125
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. James 1:5
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. To the man who is pleasing in His sight, He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy, but to the sinner, He assigns the task of gathering and accumulating that which he will hand over to one who pleases God.”