ONE OF TEN
SCRIPTURE
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!"
-Luke 17:11-13
By this time in Jesus's ministry, interruptions weren't new. He was no longer nameless or unrecognizable. Crowds followed him. He was a magnet for the sick and disabled, so there was nothing unusual about ten lepers respectfully keeping their distance yet crying out to him for help. Pity isn't much help, but maybe it was all they felt capable of asking for. Leprosy made them outcasts, robbing them of family, worship, and identity. Leprosy gave them no rights in the community.
In this encounter, Jesus didn't touch the lepers. He didn't even pronounce them healed. He only instructed them to go see the priests. It meant another journey, but they obeyed, and on their way to see the priests, they noticed that their flesh-eating sores disappeared. They were healed! Each man experienced life-changing healing that would allow them to return to their families and normalcy but only one returned to Jesus to say thank you (vv. 15-16).
The point of this story is not the healing; it is the gratitude. And the question we must ask of ourselves is whether we would have returned to Jesus to say thank you. Where does gratitude live in our relationship with Jesus? Are we always asking for more of something we think will make a difference? Are we takers or thankers?
If gratitude ruled our lives, no one would suffer in silence because grateful people would notice and help. Every child would know love, and every home would be safe. Work would be a joy, not a taskmaster. We would live in God's blessing, and the end of life on earth would be more of a benediction. If only gratitude ruled the world!
We can change that by practicing gratitude today. Don't let a good gift pass by without saying thank you to God. The man who came back to say thank you to Jesus went away with more than physical healing. What waits for us if we practice more gratitude?
BURNING QUESTIONS
1. When have you held back your gratitude until you had the answer from Jesus you wanted?
2. How can you make gratitude your first response today?
AFFIRMATION
I am not self-made or self-powered.
Everything is a gift, and I will live with gratitude.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Awesome Father, with all my heart I say thank you. Help me live my gratitude.
SCRIPTURE
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!"
-Luke 17:11-13
By this time in Jesus's ministry, interruptions weren't new. He was no longer nameless or unrecognizable. Crowds followed him. He was a magnet for the sick and disabled, so there was nothing unusual about ten lepers respectfully keeping their distance yet crying out to him for help. Pity isn't much help, but maybe it was all they felt capable of asking for. Leprosy made them outcasts, robbing them of family, worship, and identity. Leprosy gave them no rights in the community.
In this encounter, Jesus didn't touch the lepers. He didn't even pronounce them healed. He only instructed them to go see the priests. It meant another journey, but they obeyed, and on their way to see the priests, they noticed that their flesh-eating sores disappeared. They were healed! Each man experienced life-changing healing that would allow them to return to their families and normalcy but only one returned to Jesus to say thank you (vv. 15-16).
The point of this story is not the healing; it is the gratitude. And the question we must ask of ourselves is whether we would have returned to Jesus to say thank you. Where does gratitude live in our relationship with Jesus? Are we always asking for more of something we think will make a difference? Are we takers or thankers?
If gratitude ruled our lives, no one would suffer in silence because grateful people would notice and help. Every child would know love, and every home would be safe. Work would be a joy, not a taskmaster. We would live in God's blessing, and the end of life on earth would be more of a benediction. If only gratitude ruled the world!
We can change that by practicing gratitude today. Don't let a good gift pass by without saying thank you to God. The man who came back to say thank you to Jesus went away with more than physical healing. What waits for us if we practice more gratitude?
BURNING QUESTIONS
1. When have you held back your gratitude until you had the answer from Jesus you wanted?
2. How can you make gratitude your first response today?
AFFIRMATION
I am not self-made or self-powered.
Everything is a gift, and I will live with gratitude.
PRAYER FOR TODAY
Awesome Father, with all my heart I say thank you. Help me live my gratitude.
Posted in Lent