Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him – and he was a Samaritan.
Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well”.
Luke 17:11-19
As I was reading this Scripture – one thing really jumped out at me – Jesus healed 10 but only 1 came to praise God! Jesus had a 10% “success” rate. Does this mean Jesus failed? Does it mean he made a mistake? Certainly not. Jesus only did what He saw His Father in heaven doing – Jesus was 100% obedient, but the result (10%) was not up to him.
Yesterday we put together 200 summer care packages. This act was born in 2018 when our Hope Deacon (at the time), Joshua Wee, saw someone asking for help on the side of the road. I don’t know about you, but at that time, whenever I saw someone asking for something, my strategy was to not make eye contact and pretend to fiddle with something in the car until they have passed.
But Josh felt we should have something to give. This birthed the idea of having winter and summer care packages available, so when there is a person in need, we have something to give. We continue the care packages because of Andrew Pubalasingam. To continue the care packages is not an assignment or a task given to him from me. The continuation, the sourcing of materials, the planning, the purchasing, the everything, was done by Andrew. Andrew has a conviction to do the care packages because when he sees the need, or someone on the street, he doesn’t see stranger danger. Rather, he sees his own brother in need.
Both Josh and Andrew continue to do the summer care packages because they are acts of obedience (hearing God), not driven by statistics or to generate LifeSpring attendance. This is birthed out of obedience – God is in charge of the result.
Karyne and I have had an amazing privilege to make friends with a family who recently immigrated from China. This couple comes from a family of 3 and they themselves have 2 children. In a country that imposed a 1 child law, to have multiple children means they were no “ordinary” citizens. They had a great life – comfort, family, class, security – everything they needed. But one day as the wife was walking on the streets of China, she was given a flyer, which had a number to call if the reader was interested in someone named “Jesus”. This woman called that number and met a King named Wonderful Counsellor, Jehovah Jireh, Christ the King. And her life was never the same again. When the government shutdown the Christian school that her 2 children were attending, they left their world and life of comfort to a small little place in Eastern Canada called Halifax, Nova Scotia. They left because Christ was more important than life. This started when the mother was given a FLYER ON THE STREET.
As we give out care packages, we have no idea what it can do. Jesus healed 10 and only 1 responded. I’m not sure how many flyers were handed out, but I know 1 person responded. We are giving out 200 summer care packages, maybe, just maybe, 1 will read the daily devotion, turn their life to Christ, choose Jesus, and pursue Him for the rest of their lives, bringing along every family and friend that is willing to come.
Honestly, I don’t know, but I do know that God can do amazing things.
Our assignment is obedience (make and give the care packages). God’s role is the result.