30th Mar 26 | 13:54
Studies by Book
Luke 17 11-19 Surrender, Thankfulness, Gratitude and Worship of God 11 God’s chosen generation
📖 Luke 17:11-19
04Aug2020 - *God’s chosen generation* - _Luke 17:11-19_ - SURRENDER, THANKFULNESS, GRATITUDE AND WORSHIP OF GOD 11 – Bible reading: _I Peter 2:9-10_
_Luke 17:17-18 So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? (18) Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?"_
_Were there not any found...?_
This is the question that is coming from the lips of our Master. Friends, we have caused pain to the heart of God. Our worship of Him is made up of rules taught by men. This is what we saw yesterday.
The Lord was hugely disappointed with the nine Jewish lepers. The Jews were the chosen people of God. Chosen and set apart to bring glory, praise and worship to Him. _Isaiah 43:21 This people I have formed for Myself; They shall declare My praise._ The Jewish lepers did not return to give glory to God but it was the Samaritan who did.
Worship of God is in spirit and in truth and not in the external symbols alone. External symbols are helpful if we will use them to focus our worship to God. The danger with symbols, order of worship, rituals and traditions is that they have the potential to take our eyes away from God and instead get us locked into the symbols themselves.
_John 4:23-24 But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. (24) God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."_
What happened with the Israelites was that they treated God as a means to meet their desires. The narrative is the same even today, amongst us as His people. This appetite and craving that we have for all our desires to be met, for which we come to God, have been fanned to flames by preachers and teachers. _(James 3:1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.)_
_Psalm 106:10-15 He saved them from the hand of him who hated them, And redeemed them from the hand of the enemy. (11) The waters covered their enemies; There was not one of them left. (12) Then they believed His words; They sang His praise. (13) They soon forgot His works; They did not wait for His counsel, (14) But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, And tested God in the desert. (15) And He gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul._
God had separated His people to be His worshippers in spirit and in truth. _Psalm 147:11 The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him, In those who hope in His mercy._
What will God’s judgement be based on? _Revelation 14:6-7 Then I saw another angel flying in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who dwell on the earth to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people— (7) saying with a loud voice, "*Fear God and give glory to Him*, for the hour of His judgment has come; and *worship Him* who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water."_
This is the reason, why we have been separated as the people of God. We are here on earth to lift up Jesus, to give Him glory and praise. As we lift Him up, in our thought, word and in our behaviour, in the assembly of His people, people will be drawn to Him.
_I Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvellous light; (10) who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy._
The nine Jewish lepers disappointed Jesus and brought sadness to His heart. What will our response be to Him? Will we also be those who come to Him only for our needs and desires to be met? Or will we be those who say, _Habakkuk 3:17-18 Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labour of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— (18) Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation._
*Thought to ponder*
```The current pandemic has given us a wonderful opportunity to re-order our worship to God.```