Showing Gratitude

The Christ, as He walked, was beckoned by ten men. They stood away from the road because they were leprous, and the law forbade them to be too close to passers-by. But by their way of dress it was plain to all that they were unclean. Fear of the dreaded disease was great, and these men’s lives were miserable because of their unhealthy state.

Luke 17

12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

Yet, because they all suffered from it, they had become brothers in a common cause, to survive, and perhaps to find a cure. Life was usually spent in a colony, hidden from the public, suffering together in disgrace. But these ten had ventured out in hopes to find Jesus Christ, that they might receive a cure.

When they saw Him, they began to cry as one for His mercy. He did not tell them that they were cleansed, but rather tested their faith by telling them to show themselves to the priests. This was a requirement as proof that they had been cleansed from the disease. They all passed this test by unhesitatingly going to show themselves as directed. This showed great faith.

But as they went, the blessing that they so deeply desired was granted, making their skin whole again. To see this happen must have gladdened all their hearts greatly, and I am sure each smiled and shouted as they went their way to see the priests. But it is said that one was a Samaritan, an out-of-towner. This infers that the others were local men, Jews. This one man turned and gave glory to God and thanks to Christ, kneeling at His feet.

The Test of Life

The test of life; the reason for time

Is not to endure the pain

It’s not to see if we can cope

With the anger, the hate, the shame

It’s not to see how much hurt we can take

As we breathe in the pits fiery air

Nor is it to suffer the thorns of the flesh

As we plod through a living nightmare

It was never intended to push on the wind

And to see how much progress we’d make

Not to run up the hill with a weight on our back

Just to see how much time it will take

Yes we’ll do all these things and a thousand things more

And we’ll learn from each hurdle we cross

But the real test of life, what the Lord wants to know

Is what choices we make when we’re tossed?

Will we choose from the right when surrounded by wrong

When all voices cry “take what you can”

Will we pick up the wallet and pocket the cash

Just to gain from the loss of one man

When we think we’re alone, will we bend a few rules?

Will our selfishness have its own way?

Will we pass up the chance to help someone in need

And walk on as their cries fade away

When given a chance to be freed from the pain

Will we grab the brass ring and then fly?

Or will we drop down on our knees and thank God

That the angel of death just passed by

As we endure the days and the months and the years

Every moment spent far from our home

Will we obey His word; will we do as He says

Staying true to the truth that we’ve known

This life is not seeing what pain we can bare

Asking Heaven why unjust winds blow

For each child is assigned a new path he must trod

Be it desert or pure driven snow

Yes, our lives are our own and we make what we will

The results confirm that that He knew

We are sent not to prove an omniscient God

Incorrect in assumptions He drew

For He knows who we are, and He knows our intent

Thus He sees what is driving each move

We go through this life’s hardships, its joys and its pains

It’s ourselves we are trying to prove

And if we stand alone on one dark frightening night

Without friends to comfort our tears

Yet we still chose the right; shun the lord of the dark

We’ll have conquered our very worst fears

And we’ll gain the reward that was given to Job

All God’s blessings bestowed upon him

For no matter what hardships were placed in his path

He remained true, avoiding to sin

Job suffered far more then the average man

Yet in every chance given to scorn

He thanked the Lord for the things he’d been given

Cursing only the day he was born

And like him, we too must ignore the fierce gale

And put focus on things we control

Every action and thought must come straight from His words

If we wish to save even one soul

Jesus then asks why only the stranger, the non-Jew, showed gratitude. Did the others expect the gift? Was it their right as sons of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to receive heavenly blessings? Even in a cleansed state, the Samaritan was considered below others. His social status was not good. Maybe this is why he turned in thanksgiving, for all his life he had been in a humbled state. But for what ever reason, this one man was different, was more humble in receiving the gift. Jesus made note of it, and blessed him for it.

Our Father in heaven loves gratitude. He wants His children to show it when ever they can. We need to be as Daniel, who even at the threat of his own life, three times a day knelt and gave thanks to God for all that he had (Dan. 6:10).

The Lord looked for this in the lepers. He wants us all to humbly show our thanks for our gifts. When we realize that nothing comes from us but our own will, when we see that even the very air we breath is a given gift, then we return to the state of children at their fathers feet, tearfully thanking Him for everything He graciously provides.

It is not that He demands recognition, for He is God, and has all the glory He needs. It is more that in humbly giving thanks, we become one with Him. We see our dependence in Him, and in others. Jesus explained that He is one with the Father, and in that same vein, we must become one with them (John 17:21). As the nine ran to free themselves of the public stymie that had cursed them for so long, they became individuals. The tenth one turned to pledge himself gratefully to the Lord, and in so doing, raised his state in the kingdom of heaven.