DAY 5 – Gratitude

“Gratitude is the fairest blossom which Springs from a delivered soul”

Luke 8:3 “Those women were helping to support them out of their own means.”

Luke, a great physician, tells the story of Jesus from before birth, death, resurrection, and ascension to heaven. The text tells of 3 women who were healed of both physical and spiritual sickness. Mary Magdalene is mentioned 12 times in the gospels, even more than most of the apostles. She was a prominent woman in society and was always first to serve.

Mary was demon-possessed and healed by Jesus. Her deep gratitude shows as she never left Jesus’s side, not even after his death. Johanna, the wife of Chuza who was in authority in Herod’s household, helped among others supporting Jesus and his disciples.

Susanna was the other mentioned among those that were helping. (Luke 23:50-56, Mark 15:40-41) We can learn from these women the act of gratitude for what Jesus did for them (physical, spiritual sickness and brokenness), Having been saved by our Lord Jesus Christ, they were beyond grateful, that they became his loyal disciples and used their wealth to express their gratitude and further His ministry. They used the resources given by God to continue God’s work. Jesus and his disciples traveled for 3 years without jobs (fishing), Acts 2.

These women were sharing their resources with others to meet the needs of the group. They were devoted to Jesus giving their money, possessions, time, influence, and service, they were always by his side.  Their status and identity were no longer defined by their wealth (Luke 23:49-55) but the fact that they had been with Him marked them. They stayed with Jesus till the end (loyal till the end of Jesus’s journey).

Prayer: Help us oh dear Lord to be like these wonderful, prayerful women not to give to show the world or please man but our giving should keep us closer to you. Teach us oh dear Lord to know that giving is not to bribe you or to give us a blessing, we give because you loved us by giving your one and only son to save us from our sins (John 3:16), gratitude. Greater love has one that he lay his life for his friends. Amen.

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