Matthew 8:1~4

1 When he came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. 2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” 3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. 4 Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” God is the Creator who formed man, and he let man have a personality composed of intelligence, emotions and will. God also has a personality like we do - and he used his intelligence to identify our problem, his emotions to love us, and his will to save us. Faith means knowing his personal love as the greatest love. Our faith lives mean that we should give the highest thanks to him. In today's Scripture, a man with leprosy came and knelt down before Jesus and begged him to heal him. He put his faith in Jesus who was able to heal him. The man was sure that if Jesus was willing, he could make him clean (Matthew 8:2~3). Such assurance of faith as this will make Jesus work for anyone everywhere by his grace. “’If you can?’ said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for him who believes.’” (Mark 9:23). Therefore Jesus only works by faith. In today's Scripture, Jesus healed the leper and said to him, "Offer the gift as a testimony." (Matthew 8:4). Thanksgiving is the testimony both that we have received grace and also to let those who don't believe in Jesus Christ know how he works. Thanksgiving is the natural confession of faith for those who have received his grace (Luke 17:12~17). We should know that Jesus is looking for those who are grateful for the grace he has given. This is an essential condition for having a personal meeting between the one who gives and the one who receives grace. So only he who has received grace can offer all the worship, praise, faithfulness, evangelism, obedience, service and work to the Lord for the gift. This is the personal worship by faith for the Lord who has given his grace. Therefore, if you have been saved from your sin which takes you to hell, by the working of the blood that Jesus Christ shed on the cross, it is natural that you work faithfully for the Lord with humble and grateful hearts. We should give thanks to the Lord, for he made us in his image and likeness, we are saved by believing in Jesus and we become children of God who are faithful and grateful for his grace. "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Just as Jesus Christ has saved us and his flesh was torn apart for us, if you have received his grace, you ought to willingly give thanks to him with all your heart and body. You should offer your gift with sincerity and fulfill the will of the Lord (Romans 12:1, Matthew 8:4). The Lord commands us to give thanks through the law (Deuteronomy 16:15~17), today's Scripture and the Holy Spirit. Dear brothers and sisters who have received grace through Jesus, let us give thanks to him as a testimony. Let us have sacred fellowship between God and man. Let us give personal thanks for his great salvation from sickness, hell, and all kinds of curses and suffering. Be grateful. Be grateful. Let us have thanksgiving hearts as a testimony.