Be Grateful

Today I want to write a quick reminder to my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. It’s something that may seem common sense, but I am sure we all fail to do this at times. This reminder comes from Luke 17:11-19.

“While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as He entered a village, ten men with leprosy who stood at a distance met Him; 13 and they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed. 15 Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, 16 and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 But Jesus responded and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? 18 Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.”

At times in our Christian walk, we will go through valleys. It will seem that everything that can go wrong will, it takes turning to God and pleading for His help to turn things around. Much like the ten individuals in the events that take place in Luke 17. These men were living as outcasts from the community because of their illness, they were not even able to approach Jesus but had to stay at a distance. This did not stop them from crying out to Him though, and He tells them to show themselves to the priests. Now I believe that Jesus told them to go to the priests because they had been healed and needed to make an offering as was required by the law. Another example of this can be found in Mark 1:40-44.

“And a man with leprosy *came to Jesus, imploring Him and kneeling down, and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” 41 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out with His hand and touched him, and *said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. 43 And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away, 44 and He *said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

Jesus was telling the ten men to present themselves to the priests so that they may do what was required by the law as well as a testimony to His power. However, only one man once he saw that he had been healed returned to give glory to God. Today I want to implore you my fellow brothers and sister to not be like the nine who did not return to Christ. When the valley ends, when you have come to Christ asking Him to deal with whatever hardship you are facing and you find yourself through the issue, do not forget to acknowledge that it was Christ who brought you through. Remember to be grateful and acknowledge what Christ has done for you!

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex