Red Letters: The Grateful Return - Pastor Josiah Elias
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- Dec 22, 2025
- 4 min read
“What do you bring to the King?” Pastor Josiah asked. He answered, ”a gift of honor simply.”
He is worthy of it all!
FC’s mission is to culture like Christ, and its vision is Jesus. Last week, Pastor Josiah shared about “The Answer,” Lazarus’ resurrection. This week we learned about the ten, healed lepers in Luke 17.
Jesus had “reached the border between Galilee and Samaria” where ten lepers stood at a distance “crying out,’ Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.’” Luke 17:11-13 (NLT) Where Jesus stood was not in Galilee or Samaria, and that was where the lepers, who were not allowed within four cubits of anyone, stood. Some facts about the lepers were they:
Lived in no man’s land
Only had each other
Were following the rules
Had already determined where their allegiance fell.
They professed their allegiance to Jesus when they called Him “Master.”
They lived their lives at a distance. Sometimes we live like they did, at “arms length,” not allowing anyone to get too close. Maybe you want to be independent or you do not trust anyone. However, sometimes you do not know what you need until you communicate with another. The power of community is clear.
Another significant point Pastor Josiah emphasized was, ”Keep telling your stories!” Steve Jobs stated, ”The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller.” Revelation 19:10 states “For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (NLT) At FC testimonies are shared about how the Lord has changed a life, healed a broken heart, given purpose to a believer. That is the power of sharing your story. They encourage others because stories circulate. Why would the lepers have gone to Jesus and called Him “Master” unless they had heard of Jesus and what He could do. Was it the Samaritan woman at the well that told them of Jesus? Who knows, but their hearing motivated their doing.
Back in Luke 17, “He looked at them and said, ’Go show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were cleansed from leprosy.” Luke 17:14 (NLT) The lepers obeyed Jesus, and as they went to the priests they were cleansed. They heard, believed and went. That is a good pattern for us to follow; hear, believe and do! They trusted Jesus, and they went to the priests. For us may we trust God and let Him meet us in motion. It is not the season to play it safely.
Also what the Lord is doing today isn’t the same as yesterday. For example Jesus healed the blind in different ways. One time He spit on the blind man’s eyes in Mark 8:22-26; put clay on another blind man in John 9:1-41; and touched the eyes of two blind men saying,”According to your faith be it unto you.”Matthew 9:30 (KJV) “Let us be okay with God doing something differently,” admonished Pastor Josiah. We should not put God in a box and expect Him to act the same way each time. We need to stay flexible and stay in tune with Him. “Release your preconceived notions,” reminded Pastor Josiah.
Another question to consider is “Can you move even though you don’t see Him moving?” questioned Pastor Josiah. Jesus had instructed the ten lepers to go see the priests, and they immediately left even though they were not healed at that moment. As they were moving, they were healed. Do we have that much faith to move even if we do not see healing at the moment? Think of Peter who saw the Lord Jesus walking on the water during a fierce storm. As Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he walked on the stormy waves, but when his eyes flicked to the choppy waves, he sank. Let us keep our eyes on Him, the Way, the Truth, and the Life!
Moving back to Luke 17, “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned,
and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.” Luke 17:15 (NKJV) Jesus wondered where the other nine healed lepers were and asked,”Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” Then He instructed the man to stand and go because your “faith has healed you.” Luke 17:18-19 (NLT) “healed you-Grk. bozo-salvation, made whole, rescued from destruction” The healed leper was also healed spiritually. His faith combined with gratitude unlocked another dimension.
Then turning to Luke 2, Pastor Josiah directed us to the shepherds on that incredible night where the angel said,”Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Luke 210-11 (NKJV) The amazed shepherds easily found the manger, the Baby with His parents, and “they made known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds.” Luke 2:17-18 (NKJV) The shepherds told their story, and it spread.
The lepers were sent to the priests to be declared clean. The shepherds were sent to the Babe to be cleansed from sin. The shepherds went to see the Babe, returned, and told their story.
The one saved, healed Samaritan returned and thanked the Lord. He told his story. In your life how has the Lord healed you and made you whole? When has He performed miracles in your life? Give thanks to the Almighty Father for the things He has done, and tell your story.
The Paramount Point is The grateful return with exuberant praise on their lips, and salvation is their gift to be received. Then Yvette and Pastor Franklin led us in the carol,”O Come Let Us Adore Him.”
O come all ye faithful
Joyful and triumphant
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem
Come and behold Him
Born the King of Angels
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
O come let us adore Him
Christ, the Lord
Let us adore Him and reflect Him to this sick and sad world.
Calendar:
12/24-5:00 Christmas Eve service
Submitted by Larry and Annette Linthicum
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