Christian Living

THE RESERVED BLESSING

by Ezekiel Olukolajo
02/07/23
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THE RESERVED BLESSING

God has a blessing that is called the “Reserved Blessing”. The reserved blessing is not for everyone. In fact, being a child of God is not an automatic ticket to be entitled to, or receive the reserved blessing from God. The reserved blessing in all ramifications, is usually better, bigger and greater than the blessings you have received from the Lord, because it has been specially packaged and prepared by God for certain people who qualify themselves for it.

In Luke 17:11-19, the Bible talks about the ten (10) lepers who were cleansed from leprosy by Jesus. Coming across Jesus, the ten (10) lepers earnestly cried to Him for healing, and He (Jesus) didn’t deny them their request. He immediately instructed them to go show themselves to the Priests, and they were miraculously cleansed from leprosy as they went. We’re not certain if the lepers eventually made an appearance before the Priests or not, because the Bible tells us they were cleansed from leprosy while they were still on the way. However, the point here is, after discovering they were healed of leprosy, the Bible tells us that it was only one (1) of the ten (10) lepers that returned to give thanks and worship the Lord Jesus. “And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole”. Luke 17:17-19.

To the one that returned to worship and give thanks to the Lord Jesus, He said “Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole”. Ten lepers were truly cleansed from leprosy, but only one was made whole. Of course, it’s not difficult to know that being healed is not the same thing as being made whole. While ten lepers were cleansed, the one that returned to worship and give thanks to Jesus was the only one that was made whole. The blessing of being “made whole” was reserved by the Lord Jesus for anyone that would return to worship and give thanks for the healing they had earlier received. Unfortunately, the other nine (9) lepers missed the blessing forever.

When the ten (10) lepers came to Jesus and earnestly begged Him for mercy, the all-knowing Godhead in Him (Jesus) knew that the blessing and miracle the ten lepers actually needed was beyond just being cleansed from their leprosy. He knew that what they really needed was to be made whole completely, but He decided to first release the blessing of healing, and withhold the blessing of being “made whole”. He intentionally kept the blessing of “being made whole” for anyone that would return to show appreciation and give thanks to Him.  

God has a reserved blessing, and the blessing is exclusively kept for those who will learn how to return to give thanks and show heart-felt appreciation after receiving anything from God. When you pray and receive an answer to your prayer, you need to borrow some wisdom and remember that there’s still a reserved blessing that will not be released until you return to give thanks and heart-felt appreciation to the Lord. Anyone who fails to recognize the great importance of thanksgiving and appreciation does so at his or her own peril.

It is not enough to receive a blessing from the Lord, until you receive the “reserved blessing”, you’re not truly blessed. For instance, the nine (9) lepers, who never returned to give thanks, were only cleansed from leprosy; of course, they were still open to further attacks of sicknesses and diseases, but not the one that returned to give thanks and appreciation to the Lord. The man that returned, received the reserved blessing of “being made whole”, which would completely shield him from further attacks of any sickness or disease throughout his lifetime. Come on, if the LORD says “you are made whole”, please tell me, where is that sickness or disease that will have the temerity and audacity to attempt to attack you? You can never be “made whole” if you’re the type that never returns to offer thanksgiving and heart-felt appreciation to God each time you receive a blessing or answer to prayer.      

In this age, it’s so sad that a lot of people are like the nine (9) lepers, who never returned to give thanks or show appreciation to the Lord. It’s so unfortunate that, when it comes to relating with people, and even God, a lot of folks display this disdainful attitude of entitlement. They feel so entitled that they never see any reason for showing appreciation or offering thanks for any act of kindness, support or assistance they receive from others. It’s important you realize that, even if people are under some kind of obligations to give or do something for you, it’s still a good thing to show appreciation and offer thanks at every opportunity. As a wife, do you show appreciation to your husband for paying the bills, fixing the car, mowing the lawn, doing the dishes etc., or, do you feel there’s really no need for that because he’s just doing his responsibilities? As a husband, do you take time to express a heart-felt appreciation to your wife for taking care of the children, doing the cooking, taking care of the home etc., or do you just look away and say “she’s just doing what she’s supposed to do”? As a child, do you always return to offer thanks and appreciation to your parents or guardians for providing for your needs or paying school fees and other bills for you? Or do you just say they’re only doing their responsibilities, after all, it was their decision to bring you into the world and you never asked to be born?

It’s bad enough to treat or respond to our fellow humans with this conceited attitude of entitlement, it’s even more appalling that a lot of us have taken the same attitude to our relationship with God. When we receive answers to prayers, or blessings from the Lord, do we treat God as if He’s only doing His responsibilities, and never return to express deep appreciation and offer thanks for what He has done? Failure to offer gratitude and appreciation is a serious error that has caused many people to lose lasting blessings in life. Anyone that fails to learn how to return to say “thank you” to the Almighty God, may never have access to lasting blessings. Those who refuse to return to God to offer heart-felt worship and thanksgiving for what they have received from Him, are technically closing the doors to further blessings. The same thing applies to those who have the same attitude to their fellow humans.

If you think it doesn’t affect God whether or not you return to offer thanksgiving or appreciation for what He has done for you, you’re right. Yes, it doesn’t affect God it’s you that is affected. Jesus was expecting all the ten (10) lepers who were healed to return to Him to offer worship and appreciation, but nine (9) of them never did. Jesus felt really disappointed with their ungratefulness and ingratitude, but that didn’t affect Him in any way. It was them (the nine healed lepers) that forever lost the opportunity of “being made whole”. The healing the other nine (9) lepers received had no seal over it, it could still be lost, it could still be attacked because they were never made whole. A number of people, who initially received miracles and healings during church or revival services, have been found to relapse into their old sickly conditions, because, as soon as Jesus healed them, they never returned to the church to be grounded in the church to worship and serve Jesus. It should not be strange that the enemies took advantage of them and steal their blessings away; they were only healed; they were never made whole because they never returned.

One of the evils of the end time listed in 2 Timothy 3:1-2 is that people will be unthankful. That seems to be rampant in this end time, and the devil is seriously using that to cheat a lot people, including believers. If you see yourself manifesting the attitude of ingratitude, it appears you’ve allowed the spirit of the end time to take a hold of your life. You need to free yourself immediately and develop the attitude of gratitude in returning to give thanks each time you receive anything from the Lord. God cannot stand ingrates, and you should never be one. In your relationship with God, you must learn to be “generous” to God with thanksgiving and appreciation. In fact, praising and worshipping God should not be limited to just what He has done for you, you can equally thank God for what He hasn’t done! Remember, He is the Sovereign God!            

People of God, please don’t be deceived, there’s a reserved blessing that God withholds and keeps ONLY for those who will return to offer Him thanksgiving and heart-felt worship. Remember, your blessing is never complete until you receive the reserved blessings. Do you desire and covet the reserved blessing? Be an incurable giver of thanks and appreciation, both to God and people.

Shalom!

Ezekiel Olukolajo
(c) February 2023

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