As They Went

While Jesus was travelling, He entered a village and encountered ten lepers. They called out to Jesus, crying out for mercy. Jesus instructed them to go and show themselves to the priests. The law required them to do this, so their healing could be confirmed. They weren’t healed immediately but they took Jesus at His word. As they went, they were healed. They were cleansed of their leprosy, only after they followed the advice Jesus gave.

As they went, they were healed. They had to take action to receive their healing. As I went, I too was healed. It didn’t happen all at once. Over time I noticed; psoriasis gone, arthritis gone, hay fever gone, depression, obesity, poverty, timidity, fear; it all went as I went, as I continued my walk with Christ.

When you put your faith in Jesus, just keep stepping one foot in front of the other and one day you’ll see; as you went you were healed. Don’t fret. Don’t worry. And don’t quit. Just keep speaking God’s word over your life, keep putting one foot in front of the other. Don’t let the devil sway your thinking, just keep declaring your healing, no matter how it seems or how it feels.

I read a short snippet the other day; two new alter boys, different years, different churches, both dropped the challis of wine on their first day of service. One minister aggressively struck one boy, told him to leave and never come back. The other minister whispered; “One day you’re going to make a great priest.”

The boy who was struck, it is alleged he went on to cruelly rule as a communist dictator for decades. His name; Marshall Tito. The boy who was given words of encouragement became Archbishop Fulton Sheen. He went on to be a television evangelist, reaching millions across the world with the light of God.

Words matter! Jesus’s words matter. The lepers were healed because they listened to the words spoken and they believed in the truth of those words.

Both of those boys who dropped the challis grew according to the words that were spoken over them. They both grew up to become great men. One filled with hate. One filled with love.

Words matter! What comes out of our mouths matter. What we speak over others and ourselves matter. The bible repeatedly emphasises the importance of our words, although no specific numerical count is mentioned, however the concept is a recurring theme throughout scripture.

The tongue has the power of life and death, says Proverbs 18:21, underscoring the profound impact of what you say. By your words you will be acquitted and by your words you will be condemned, it says in Matthew 12:36-37. James devotes an entire chapter to the power of words, while Ephesians instructs us to speak only words that are helpful.

Jesus is the Word become flesh. He is the pattern of how we are to live our lives. We are to follow the example He set; to love God and to love one another. Jesus died one of the cruellest deaths of that era, to give us abundant life; whipped, beaten, spat upon, nailed to the cross and left to die in agony. What does He ask in return? He asks that we remember Him often in the partaking of the elements, communing together as we take of the bread and the wine in remembrance of Him.

Let’s do that together now in remembrance of Him. Let us pray; Lord, let us come to You worthy of the sacrifice You gave. Forgive us our sins. Wash us whiter than snow as we take now of Your body broken for us and Your blood shed, that we may have life and have life abundantly. Lord, thank You for Your great sacrifice, so great words cannot express. We praise You, we honour You, we acknowledge You as the One True God. You are our King forever. Amen.