Hey, my friend. I can’t wait to dive into today’s guided Scripture reading with you. As I prepared it, God spoke some really powerful truths to me, and I’m sure He will do the same for you.
I encourage you to take a moment to pause and get ready, if you have not done so yet. Find a quiet place where you won’t be interrupted for 5-10 minutes. Quiet your heart. And then, when you’re ready, join me in the prayer as we begin.
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God, as we come together to study Your Word, we affirm that it is living and active. Indeed, it is our very life. Would You breathe Your life into us as we enter into the following story? We believe it is true. We believe You were able to bring healing. We believe that this story has a message for us today. And we ask that You speak to us as we read it together. Bless our imaginations and empower us to see what You want us to see. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen.
This story is from Luke chapter 17, verses 11 through 19. I will read through the story two times, with some questions and prompts along the way to guide you. This first time, I invite you to watch the story unfold as a silent observer who, perhaps, is following Jesus on His journey to Jerusalem.
Take note of where your attention goes.
Take note of what emotions or thoughts you have.
Take note of anything that God brings to mind.
[Pause]
Reading One
As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria.
You are following Jesus as He travels to Jerusalem. You’ve heard Him teach about forgiveness and faith. You’ve listened to His parables about the wise manager, and about the rich man and Lazarus. The lost coin. The lost sheep. The lost son. He has so captured your attention that you can’t help but follow Him and hear some more.
As he entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
Jesus’ teaching is interrupted by the shouts of some men standing several yards off. Even though they are far away, you can see their unkept hair, their torn clothes. How do you respond at this interruption? What do you feel toward the men with leprosy?
He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.
Perhaps once the lepers leave, Jesus continues to teach. Or maybe He is simply taking a rest along His journey. In any case, we know that at least a little time passes. The lepers have left, on their way to the priests. What are you thinking about in these moments? What captures your attention? How are you feeling on this journey?
One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan.
Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”
Did you see that man come back, healed? Did you hear him shouting praise to God? Did you hear him thanking Jesus for healing him? What is going on in your heart and mind as you watch him?
[Pause]
I’m going to read through the story a second time, and this time, I invite you to enter in as one of the lepers.
Remember that, as someone with leprosy, you are not allowed to come into town or into close contact with other people. You are considered unclean. You can’t worship at the Temple. You can’t celebrate festivals with your family. You are to live in isolation away from the community.
Isolated. Alone. Unkept.
You’ve got skin sores across your body. Maybe some of your limbs are even numb from the nerve damage that has occurred.
What would that be like for you?
Reading Two
As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria.
You see Jesus walking down the path, about to enter the village you live outside of. You might be an outcast, but you’ve heard about Him. How do you feel knowing He is so close?
As he entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
What is going on inside your heart and mind as you cry out to Jesus? What is your hope? Your desire? How do you feel, to have to shout loud enough that Jesus can hear you, knowing that others are listening, too?
He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.”
How do you feel as you’re on the way to the priests? What do you notice happening in your body?
And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.
It’s gone. The leprosy is gone. No more spots. No more nerve damage. All signs of it are erased.
One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan.
What is your reaction to your healing?
Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”
[Pause]
As we went through the reading together, I invited you to take note of what happened inside of you. You might want to take a few moments to jot that down.
How did you feel when the lepers shouted out? Were you frustrated? Embarrassed? Filled with compassion? Explore that with God.
What was it like to watch the healed man come back and worship Jesus? Do you see any parallels in your life today?
What hopes and dreams did you carry in your heart as you shouted out to Jesus for mercy? Did anything from your own life rise to the surface?
And if God shared something special with you—some word or phrase or image—be sure to write that down, as well. Pay attention to that and keep bringing it before Him, asking Him to show you what it means.
And if you’d like to share with me about what you experienced during this guided Scripture reading, or if you have any questions, you can email me at kari@lovedoesthat.org. My name is spelled K-A-R-I.
And thank you for being here with me today.
Until next time…
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