Well Soul Podcast
Well Soul Podcast
Ep. 19 | LUKE 17 | The Best Way to Begin a New Year
Happy New Year from the Well Soul Podcast!
At the beginning of new seasons, it is always helpful to take a pause to listen, reflect, and pray.
How did you see God at work in your life this past season?
How did you grow?
What can you praise Him for?
In this week's podcast episode, Jesus is teaching his disciples (and others listening) about the kingdom of God in a series of teachings and exhortations—as he makes his way to Jerusalem to sacrifice himself for our sins.
On His way, as he walks the border between Galilee (Israel) and Samaria, He encounters ten lepers who call out to him.
Jesus tells them to go to the priests and present themselves at the temple.
Most (if not all) of them would know that such an act was part of the Law, found in Leviticus. If a person had a skin disease and was made well, they were to present themselves to the priest for verification and then they could rejoin the community. Living with a skin disease casted you out of the community and out of temple worship.
As the lepers obeyed Jesus' words and walked toward Jerusalem, they were healed!
But only one came back to thank Jesus and praise God—a Samaritan.
Samaritans were despised by the Jews because they were considered "half-breeds", intermarried Jews with other surrounding people groups. Jesus called the Samaritan a "foreigner" (Luke 17:18). But this half-breed foreigner was the only one that declared his gratitude to Jesus.
---
How about us? Do we march on when God works in our lives and forget to pause to praise and worship Him? Or do we stop like the Samaritan and worship God for what He does?
Listen to this week's episode and take a moment to ponder and worship God for what He has done in your life as you being this new year.
----
NEW YEAR, NEW GOALS?
Perfect time to create rhythms to help you become all God created you to be.
Download a copy of "8 Steps for Creating Well Soul Rhythms" HERE.
BUY ME A COFFEE
to support the production of this podcast.
INHABITING THE HOLIDAYS
Your guide to experiencing a purposeful HOLY day season.
SUBSCRIBE to the WELL SOUL MONTHLY.
RESOURCES:
Bible Study for Luke: Latte with Luke by Dr. Sandra Glahn.
Videos for Luke: Bible Project Luke 1–9, Luke 10–24
Well Soul Resources
- 10 Questions to Ask for Spiritual Renewal
- Is it okay to question God?
- S.I.M.P.L.E. Guide to Inductive Bible Study.
- 4 Simple ideas to read Scripture when you don't have time.
- 1 Practice to walk closely with Jesus.
BIBLE READING APPS:
CONTACT:
seanascottwrites@gmail.com
WEBSITE
Welcome to Luke 17 in our certainty of faith series through the Gospel of Luke.
So far we have been on quite a journey together through the Gospel of Luke and I would ike to start our time together this week by recapping a few highlights before we meditate on today’s Sciprutre.
so far in the Gospel of Luke iwe have seen Jesus progressively being revealed s the Messiah. From the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary—then to Jesus’ baptism and the supernatural announcement from God the Father of his identity—to then Jesus revealing himself by what He says and does.
He heals the sick. Casts out demons. Forgives sinners. And welcomes the irreligious to know Him and choose the kingdom. He even heals and welcomes women into fellowship with him, something religious teachers of that time look down upon. Jesus hangs out with those who KNOW they are sinners because he came to save sinners, not those who think they have no need of saving.
We have also seen rising tension between Jesus and religious establishment—and the political powers, They are not liking this out-of-the-box spiritual teacher, especially as he proclaims himself to be from God the Father and breaks many religious man-made rules and regulations.
Jesus is now manking his way toward Jerusalem, where he knows he will suffer many things and offer himself as a sacrifice once and for all for the forgiveness of sins.
This is where we come to our chapter today.
-------
In today’s chapter, 17, luke records a series of jesus’ teachins about living for the kingdom. Lessons include to be careful not to cause other people to be tempted to sin, to forgive others when wronged, and to remain humble in service to the Lord—for what does He owe us? Then Luke records Jesus’ encouncter with ten lepers. This is where we will drink in the Scipture today.
Before I read the Scripture, take a moment to breathe and invite the Holy Spirit to speak to your heart through tpday’s passage.
Come, Holy Spirit, come.
Luke 17:11–19
11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a] met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
Pause to reflect on what you just heard.
Entitlement. Unexpressed gratitude. Like a spoiled child at Christmas that runs off to play with their new xboa, never looking up with gratitude toward the sacrifice of their parent. The 9 lepors, ostracized from the community—unclean by religious standards—have encountered God himself and they fail to worship at the sight of this God-done miracle.
But are we not like them?
When God has done so much to rescue us from the salvery of sin, are we walking around ignoring gratitude?
When he answers our prayers, are we marching on with the provision, but without the worship?
We are going to play some longer music today for you to reflect on this past season. How have you seen God at work in or trough your life? Answered prayer? Proision? Even His presence is the greatest present.
Take some time to thank him for what He has done in your life—or antying else the Spirit lays on oru heart.
----
The rest of the chapter, Jesus is being asked when the kingdom will fully come. And Jesus explains that the kingdom will not come in the way they expect . . . in fact, the kingdom is already in tehir midst through Jesus. . . but to be always ready to lay down your life for the sake of the kingdom.
“Whoever tries to keep their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life will preserve it.”
Pause once again to take a moment of silence and prayer. If Jesus were to ask you to leave your life to follow Him, could you? What would be hard to let go of? Pray about this and for a heart willing to follow—no matter then cost—or antying else the Spirit lays on your heart
Let’s pray.
----
Thank you for joining me on the Well Soul Podcast today.
If this espisode has encouraged your relationship with God, I invite you to log onto buymeacoffee.com/wellsoulpodcast to support the production of this podcast by buying me a cup of coffee.
Please also review the podcast on apple so more people can find the well soul podcast.
I also have a New Years gift for you to help you become all God created you to be. when you subscribe to the Well Soul Monthly digital newsletter. You’ll receive a copy of “8 steps to Create a Well Soul Rhythm” ,a digital download guide to help you craft your personal life rhythms so that you can cultivate a life of walking with God and living with purpose. You also will receive the a copy of the Well Soul Monthly, a digital newsletter designed to offer you inspiration and resources to encourage you to know God’s Word, walk with God and live with pursoe. Click the link in the show notes to subscribe.
There is so much more to the story in this chapter, so if you would like to drink in the scriptures more slowly than the podcast allows, I encourage you to look at the resources linked in the show notes.
I would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Sandra Glahn for her Latte with Luke Bible study and Brian Vasquez productions, who has made this podcast possible. This episode is sponsored by socialremix.co to SocialRemix.co, a social media generating website that saves you hours of content creation with just a click of a button. For more information, see the Links in the show notes.
God bless you and I pray that you have a well soul.
