I start every day's reflections by reading the Bible verses and thinking about them for a few minutes. Today, we'll look at Luke 17:11-19. If you want to read those for yourself first, feel free to click here. As He traveled, Jesus often encountered desperate people. A desperate father, hoping that his son could be healed. A hopeless woman, stricken with disease. A demon-possessed man.
Jesus crossed paths with all types of people and every form of human pain.
If they came to Jesus for help, healing, or guidance, he always gave them what they needed most. Here's an account of ten "lepers" - people with various types of skin disease - yelling out to Jesus. By law, most of them were not allowed to get close to people and spread the illness. So they shouted. They "called out in a loud voice." It seems like a coordinated effort.
One of them recognizes Jesus. One of them gets the idea.
Together, they decide what they'll say, how loud they'll say it, and when they will shout desperately to Jesus from a distance. Together, they hear Jesus' instructions to show themselves to the priest.
In that day, a person's physical sickness was thought to be connected somewhat with a spiritual sickness or sinful rebellion. In order to be pronounced "clean," and fit to re-enter society with the rights of a human being, one had to get approval from the priest. Jesus sends them - all ten of them - to get that approval. En route, the healing occurs.
All ten go the priest. All ten are pronounced "clean."
Sadly, only ONE guy comes back to say thanks. He praises God in a loud voice. He throws himself at the feet of Jesus. This foreigner... this recovering skin-disease victim... is the only one to recognize and say thanks to His Savior.
Question - Why do we often fail to say thanks to God? Why am I prone to be more like the NINE? Could it be my own sense of entitlement? Could it be that I'm too focused on myself and getting on with my life? What's next?
Maybe those NINE were already thinking about getting home and visiting family and reconnecting - and who could blame them? Apparently, though... they focused on the healing and totally missed the Healer.
This is a convicting story. The compassion of Jesus. The ten who are healed. The nine who take it for granted. The one - the loner - the solo - the only - just one guy says thanks.
For at least today, let's act like that one guy...
Dear God...
- Thanks so much for answering my prayers yesterday. You know about my own visit to the doctor, which is never something I get thrilled about. Thank you that it went much better than I thought. Thanks for hearing those prayers and for caring for my/our physical needs and concerns.
- Thank you for answering prayers for my good friend, Pastor Darrell Anderson. His heart valve-replacement surgery is nearly two weeks ago, and I'm thankful that he's home and getting rest and things seem to be going great.
- God, thank you for the good things You do, especially in hard times. I have friends who are going through a rough time financially, or have recently lost jobs... God, thank you for taking care of their need, even through the storms of life.
- God, thank you for giving Jennie and me great strength, love, and encouragement from You and from others as we experienced two miscarriages together. We've grown so much through those times, and You have brought us close. Thank you for the hope we have of meeting our other kids in heaven one day.
- Jesus, thank you for responding, helping, loving, and healing when we shout for help... even from a distance... thank you for being the kind of friend and the kind of God who is ABLE to help, and COMPASSIONATE - WILLING to help. We are grateful... teach us to praise and thank you on a regular basis... to throw ourselves at your feet... Thank You!
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