Lord, bless your people today. God bless America and heal our land. Almighty God, have mercy on the people of the world today and manifest yourself in love for all to see, In Jesus name.
You've heard many of our elected officials, experts, and doctors say almost daily, "We are all in this together."
This virus has brought everyone together. Not just in America, but all across the globe... All nations and all peoples are praying for one another.
I want you to notice something that happened to a group of people who were all having the same trial. Luke chapter 17 we read...
11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
I know this passage has been preached many times about this Samaritan coming back to say thank you to Jesus. Christ ask, "but where are the nine?" We are to give thanks for all things. The fact of the matter here is that the other nine did not come back because they weren't thankful. Christ didn't make them whole as he did the Samaritan who came back. He was the only one to show gratitude. But my point is not about this...
But notice Verse 13...
"And they lifted up their voices... and said Jesus, have mercy on us."
These ten lepers were all in the same condition. They all had leprosy. They were all sick with the same disease and this is how the public saw them.
We know the other nine were probably Jewish but that didn't matter to them. They were all together, suffering the same sickness, in the same place, with the same people, having to keep there distance from the public.
This common misfortune had broken down the racial and the national barriers they once had.
In the common tragedy of their leprosy they had forgotten they were Jews and Samaritans and remembered only that they were men in need.
They were all one.
It should be that the things which should draw us together is the common needs that we have.
Before this virus, we were many nations and many peoples.
Now it seems like we are only two... those who have the virus and those who do not.
Now our common need and prayer is towards the sick and those most vulnerable to the sickness and those most exposed.
But God sees our most important common need, that need is that we would know Him and love Him and trust Him.
Jesus said in His Priestly Prayer in John chapter 17...
10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them.11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
20 Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.
22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:
23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Over and over again Christ prays that we will be one together.
That we will be one in the faith.
That we will be one church without spot or blemish.
That we will be one family united together by the Blood of Christ!
We have been bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
When one of us suffers, we all suffer together.
If one is honored, we all rejoice together.
We need each other to partake in joys and help in burdens.
We read in the Acts of the Apostles that the church was one in Christ... that they were one together, with one prayer, and one purpose.
Just as the Triune God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are unified, we must be in unity and stand with together with the Lord!
Lord Jesus, help us to be one together for your names sake. Amen.
Please remember our church prayer requests and all those listed in our church bulletin. Pray for one another. Pray for our Nation and ALL people. Pray for our military and the churches missionaries all around the world.
Pray for our Police Officers and Fire Fighters.
Pray for all those in the medical field, hospitals and doctors offices as they provide patient well care and also to protect themselves.
Finally Pray for the lost, those seeking after The Lord today.
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed by thy name
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven
Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, for ever. Amen
"Wherefore edify(encourage) one another..." 1 Thessalonians 5:11 We are one in Christ, Pastor Brian
Have a great day!
