The Weary World Rejoices
Week three - “A Time for Receiving”
Isaiah 40:29 and Luke 17:11-19
What kind of receiver are you?
Eager Receiver
Slow Receiver
Awkward Receiver
Reluctant Receiver
Ungrateful Receiver
(May need to practice before the best gift of Christmas arrives.)
He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. —Isaiah 40:29
God is a good gift giver because He knows what we need most.
Every good and perfect gift comes from above. (James 1:17)
11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” —Luke 17:11-19
- All ten lepers got what they wanted, only one received what he needed - ten were healed of leprosy, but only one was made well.
The leper that was made well came back to find Jesus, to be with Jesus - he didn’t just want the healing, he wanted the source.
Do we want all of the things we think God can give us, or do we want God to invade our lives?
We can’t reduce receiving to a transaction - receiving is the other half of a relationship (to give and to receive - wedding vows)
Are you going to be an eager receiver, a slow receiver, an awkward receiver, a reluctant receiver, or an ungrateful receiver?