And one of them, when he saw that he
was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his
face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. Luke
17:15-16
Thankfulness
is foundational to the Christian life. Thankfulness is a conscious response
that comes from looking beyond our blessings to their source. As Christians, we
have been forgiven, saved from death, and adopted as God’s children. There
could be no better reason for a grateful heart!
Lepers in
Jesus’ day were social outcasts. Their highly contagious condition ostracized
them from those they loved. When ten lepers encountered Jesus, they desperately
implored Him to show them mercy. Jesus sent them to the priest. As they obeyed,
they were healed! These ten men had been forbidden to enter their own villages,
to live in their own homes, to work in their own jobs, or even to touch their
own children. Imagine what unrestrained joy must have filled them as they ran
back home again!
One of
the lepers, a Samaritan, stopped and ran back to thank Jesus. Samaritans were
normally shunned by the Jews, but Jesus had healed him! Jesus asked him, “Where
are the others?” Ten lepers had been healed. Ten lepers were reveling in their
new found health. Ten men were joyfully rushing to share the good news with
those they loved. But only one considered the Source of that blessing and
stopped to thank and worship the One who had given him back his life.
We, too,
have been healed and made whole by the Savior. We are free to enjoy the
abundant life the Savior has graciously given us. Could we, like the nine
lepers, rush off so quickly to glory in our blessings without stopping to thank
our Redeemer? God looks for our thanks. Our worship, prayers, service, and
daily life ought to be saturated with thanksgiving to God (Phil. 4:6).
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