Thursday, March 3, 2011

Thurs., 3/3/11 Devotion (Lk. 17:17)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 17:17, where we read these words:

"So Jesus answered and said, 'Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?' "

Everybody is about getting things from God, and crying out to Him in time of need. Probably about ten percent of those who receive mercy from Christ ever come back to thank Him for what He has done for them. It is interesting that Jesus actually asks the question, "Where are the [other] nine?" He rightly *expected* them to return and "give glory to God," (v. 18).

Ingratitude is not appreciated by the Lord; and those who have re-
ceived of the riches of Christ's grace had better return to Him with thanks and praise. It may be safely asserted that all the truly redeem-
ed in the church *will* live lives of worship and gratitude--as this is the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and is evidence of real faith.

[Puritan quote of the day: "[Christ's] church is the house which He has built on a perfect number of pillars so that it might be stable, resting on a good foundation." --John Owen, in, "Communion with God"]