The Mississippi enterprise. (Jackson, Miss.) 1938-current, 1956-02-04

test of their obedience. Next, 1t ;
was test of their faith. And last,
was a test of their appreciation.
Do difference in cleasing:
All obeyed the command of
Christ and started toward the
priest Along the way all were
cleansed at the same time for all
experienced a mighty miracle
being wrought in their bodies.
A difference in gratitude:
One of the ten who was clean /
sed was filled with such great |
gratitude that with loud shout
ings he returned to the great
Healer and worshiped Him, and
Expressed his gratitude to Christ.
The nine other men were clean
sed and as nine men they went |
to the priest; as nine men they
went through the ceremonies of
sacrifices and washings, but the
nine never returned to give thanks
to the Giver of their cleansing.
CleanSed Samaritan Came To
Great High Priest:
Jesus Christ is the Great High
Priest. Instead of going on to
the high priest of the Levitical
system to report to hi mand offer
his cleansing sacrifices which in
volved several weeks of time and
much expense, the Samaritan re-
turned to Jesus the Great High
Priest and reported to Him. He
not only accepted Christ as His
Priest but also as his sacrifice.
Christ was pleased wit hhis graft
tude and sent him home in peace.
This saved him much time and
a great expense. 1t paid him to
be grateful.
Affinity of Faith Increases:
Humility, obedience and graft
tude are three elements which
will greatly increase PERSONS
faith. Pride, disobedience, and un-
gratefulness will cripple faith,
bring disease and dwarf the soul.
Humility precedes promotion and
courts Gods favor. Obedience
must take the lead before faith
Operates. Disobedience cripples
faith, for faith has no affinity
with disobedience. 1t is easy to
believe God when we fully obey
Him. Praise also helps to increase
faith.
Humility brings blessings:
A servant is under his master
and obligated to serve him and
obey his commandments. We are
Gods property and the way to
get what we want, is first to do
what Gods wants done. Taking a
Ilowly place before the Lord makes
room for promotion.
Obedience Brings Blessings:
The ten lepers were not cleans
ed until they obeyed Christ. Some
where along the journey to the
priest, evidently soon after they
left Christ, they were cleansed.
The command Christ gave re-
Iquired obedience and assured
cleansing if they obeyed. 1t did
not require much faith, only
enough to obey.
Thanksgiving Brings Blessings:
The one of the ten lepers who
was cleansed was thoughtful and
grateful enough to Christ and at
His feet gave gratitude to Him.
He was RELEASED from going to
the priest and allowed to 60 home
directly. Some people are ever
ready to ask God for personal
needs. but very slack in thanking
Hi mfor answered prayers.
Praise Brings Commentator:
Thankfulness is a rare quality.
People do not praise the Lord
enough. The Lord greatly appre-
ciated the gratitude of this Samar-
itan and complimented him by re-
leasing him to go home. By the
words of Christ and His Inquiry.
He commended him to all people.
who should go to the Lord for
help and Blessings and ask through
prayers prayer, then when their
prayers are answered, should re-
turn t othe oLrd again and thank
Him for the blessings obtained.
Practical Points on the Lesson:
Every person owes God a great
debt of gratitude. 1t is a sin not
to praise God. Humility, obedience
faith and thanksgiving to God
court His favor and brings His
blessing.
Gratitude is rare quality as
illustrated by nine of the cleansed
Ilepers.
i Christ complimented the thank
Iful Samaritan. Gratitude is an art
which needs to be cultivated. It
were well for every Christian to
major in one art, acquire the de-
gree of an M. A., that is, master
L