The Sword of the LORD

"And he fell upon his face at His feet, giving Him thanks." (Luke 17:16a).   As Americans gather together this week with their families and friends to enjoy turkey, pumpkin pie, and other traditions, I hope, more than anything else, that they will take the time to reflect on God's mercy and grace in their lives.  This holiday affords many people the opportunity to be reminded of God's goodness, but we Christians should not need a reminder.  Our hearts should be full continually with love and appreciation for the One Who has blessed our lives so richly.   The story of the ten lepers in Luke 17 illustrates a valuable lesson about being thankful.  Jesus graciously healed all ten lepers, but only one, when he realized that he had been made whole, returned to give God the glory, and to thank the Savior Who had touched his life.  It was no superficial "thank you" either: he fell down upon his face at Jesus feet, thanking Him with all his heart.  The other

(The following is an article that I first published in the mid-1970's.   I have edited it somewhat and now present it to you 40 years later.   It is somewhat long, but the message is still very much alive and needed in our day.   Hope it ministers to your spirit.) "Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction."  (Isaiah 48:10)   "And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and He shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness."  (Malachi 3:3)   Once we, as Christians, have submitted our lives to our heavenly Father, He begins a process of purging and purifying, of training and chastening, which is meant to remove from us all self-will, and transform us into the image of Jesus our Savior.  There is one word which I think best describes this process and the effect that it has on the individual that is exerc

"For no man can lay any foundation other than the one that is already laid, which is Jesus Christ.  Now if anyone builds on this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; his work will be shown for what it is: for the day will bring it to light, because it will be tested by fire; and the fire will reveal the quality of each man’s work of what sort it is." (1 Corinthians 3:11-13 KJV-2011).   We Christians have all been placed as individual members of the body of Christ.  Just as our natural bodies are made up of many unique members that work together in perfect union and harmony to accomplish a multitude of specific tasks, so also is the body of Christ.  Jesus Christ Himself is the head of this body, and He directs the activities of every single member by His Holy Spirit.  Not one member is unnecessary: each one has his proper function in the body, and without that member the body would be crippled.  If I were a foot, I shouldn't say that I am not

“And the LORD said unto Gideon, The people that are with thee are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel vaunt themselves against Me, saying, mine own hand hath saved me.” (Judges 7:2).   “And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9).   The enemies of Israel had once more beaten them down very low when God began to call Gideon to be His agent of change.  Gideon’s faith was tentative at best and required some encouragement, but he was willing to do what he was asked to do.  God wanted him to be an example of faith and obedience to the people of Israel who had fallen away from serving God.  When he blew the trumpet to call the people to arms, 32,000 men came up to fight!  This was not a bad army with which to face the Midianites.  God thought otherwise.  He told Gideon he h