When the ten lepers asked Jesus to heal them, He told them to go and show themselves to the priest. Visibly they could see no change in their condition. They probably were thinking, “Why? So He can tell us that we have leprosy? We already know that!” However, they started down the road to see the priest and their eyes beheld a miracle on the move—they were healed! Miracles take place as we move forward with God’s plan. We can’t see it before we start moving, and we may not see it during the first few steps or miles down the road, but wait for it…wait for it…it will happen!

Scriptures
Joshua 3:13; Luke 17:14; Ps 14:10

Verse
Jesus looked at them and said, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” On their way they were healed. (Luke 17:14)

Thought
We live in a Bandaid society. People just cover up problems and complications in their lives. They try to forget the problems exist and hope things will get better without any real effort on their part. This applies to relationships, health issues, financial problems, job stress, and on and on it goes. Hoping things will change without making any effort to do something is the equivalent to praying to win the lottery but failing to buy a ticket. It ain’t gonna happen, folks! Until you DO SOMETHING…. hopefully, the right thing, nothing is going to change. God wants the best for us and is just waiting for us to ask Him to be involved in a real way. He wants us to move…to have faith…to be made stronger in Him. As we move in faith things begin to change.

Questions
Do you think the lepers would have been healed if they had not headed toward the priest? If not, would they have labeled Jesus a phony? Can you think of a time you blamed God for not acting when you, in fact, weren’t moving? How do you react when you see others complain about the state of their life, their want, their lack, their problems, but in reality they do little to correct the situation? Have you ever felt led to speak the truth in love to someone who was oblivious to their failings? How have you or would you respond if someone came to you and spoke the truth in love about something in your life?

Response
New year. New month. New day. God wants to do something new so you need a plan! If you don’t journal, give it a try. Write down a few things you would like to change in your life this year. Ask God to help you formulate a plan and take a step forward. Confide in a Christian friend to hold you accountable. Get moving. Success doesn’t happen without taking the first step, then the next, then the next!

Prayer – from Isaiah 40:28-31 (NIV)
You, O Lord, are the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. You do not grow tired or weary and your understanding no one can fathom. You give strength to the weary and increase the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Thank you for being my strength and my Redeemer. In Jesus Name I pray, Amen!