Today’s Podcast
Today’s Bible reading plan:
Read it in a year – Romans 11-12
see the whole year’s plan [here](http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.pdf)
Today’s Devotional
Matthew 8:4
Jesus: Don’t tell anyone what just happened. Rather, go to the priest, show yourself to him, and give a wave offering as Moses commanded. Your actions will tell the story of what happened here today.
What do Jesus’ words mean for us today?
How many times do we use our words to explain what happens to us in our religious experiences instead of our actions? We declare to the world, “I’m a Christian.” We say the right words and attend the right churches. We tell others of our generosity and our faith. We talk about our prayer life and our study. We have a lot of words we share with others and sort of brag about our relationship. I think that’s what Jesus warns against as He shares this instruction with the leper after his miraculous cleansing that day.
The law required a specific action when a leper’s spots disappeared. The Levitical requirement said the person marched himself to the priest and the priest determined if the spots were indeed gone and he was healed. It was the priest’s training and experience to validate the healing. Then the healed person gave a wave offering of thanksgiving to God in recognition of His hand at work in the healing process. The law was clear and so Jesus tells the man to just carry out the law’s requirements.
Just do what you should be doing as a child of God. Follow His instructions. Read His manual and do what it says. That’s enough. You see, the man won’t have to tell anyone he’s been healed. When he goes to the priest to show himself as the law requires, the priest will make the declaration. The former leper won’t have to shout to the world that he’s clean, the priest will do it. He won’t have to make a sign that says, “I’m not a leper. I’m cleansed of my disease. I’m one of you.” The priest, the authority, the one who sees him will know he has been cleansed of his leprosy and make that judgment for him and make that declaration to the world.
All the leper needed to do was praise God for what happened in his life.
That’s exactly what Jesus wants us to do as we come to Him for our spiritual cleansing. I shouldn’t have to scream out to the world that I’m a Christian. In fact, my having to tell someone that I’m a follower of Christ negates my testimony in some sense. See, my life should reflect Him in such a way that others will make that declaration for me. I shouldn’t have to tell anyone. Others should see by my actions that I belong to Him. Just like the leper that went to the priest and by his actions others learned he was no longer diseased, others should see I am no longer spiritually diseased with sin because of my actions in the world. Others should see that I am so changed by the power of Christ that death no longer holds its reign over me and I live according to the hope of Jesus’ resurrection power in my life.
It shouldn’t take my words, my verbal testimony, to make others believe I am a Christian. If that’s the only method I have to convince people of my loyalty to Christ, then I’ve missed it. I’ll be like those who at the judgment cry, “Lord, Lord, didn’t we do miraculous things in your name?” But Jesus said, “Depart from me, I don’t know you.” It’s the quiet, gentle, unassuming, behavior, the fruit of godly, obedient service, that others will see and know we are followers of Jesus. It’s the love of God we share with His family and even with our enemies that will demonstrate we know and are driven by the dictates of our Savior.
But then, don’t forget the last thing Jesus told the cleansed leper to do. It’s one thing to let others see your good works and for them to give glory to your Father in heaven. But Jesus also told the healed man to give that wave offering of thanksgiving to God. That’s something we need to keep in mind always. Paul says to give thanks in everything. He says to rejoice always and to emphasize how important rejoicing is to the Christian he repeated his admonition in Philippians. Give thanks for what God has done for you.
When we come to Jesus and He forgives us of the sin in our hearts, when He cleanses us from all our unrighteousness, when He covers us with His blood and redeems us, how can we not thank Him? How can we not lift our voice in praise to Him and give Him glory and honor and praise? But do we? Do we start our day thanking Him for the honor of being one of His children? Do we open our eyes with the thought of what privilege we have to belong to the King of kings and Lord of lords? Do we take that first conscious breath of the morning thanking Him for the opportunity to live this day with His grace and mercy?
Live each day in a state of gratitude for what God has done for you. When you accept Jesus as Lord of your life, when you let Him cleanse you, and fill that God-sized hole in your life, how can you help but rejoice in everything? He will not forsake us. He will be with us always. In the toughest times, we know we are not alone. He is with us and in us. Let you actions declare for themselves who you belong to in this world. And give thanks for what God does for you each day.
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved. In accordance with the requirements for FTC full disclosure, I may have affiliate relationships with some or all of the producers of the items mentioned in this post who may provide a small commission to me when purchased through this site.