Dear Heavenly Father,
Jesus Christ tells us in Luke 17:11-19 about the ten lepers that were healed from the disease of leprosy. None of us can truly understand the impact in earlier biblical periods of having this disease. Those who had it were looked upon as utter outcasts. They were isolated and not allowed to be around others. Some were ostracized from their own families, not wanting to bring shame on them. In those days, having the disease of leprosy signaled that a person had committed a sinful act and had therefore received the consequences of his or her wrong actions. Having this disease was agonizing in every way, so when Your Son healed the lepers in this record, he made restoration possible in all the ways that are important. Relationships with family and friends were restored; the ability to earn a living was restored, and most importantly, broken fellowship with You could be restored.
In Luke 17:14, Jesus Christ told the ten lepers to go and show themselves to the priests. In those days, when it came to the healing of the disease of leprosy, this was part of the process. A person couldn’t just say they had been healed and return home to their families. They had to be inspected by a priest, and the priest would have to verify and declare that the disease was no longer on them.
This verse in Luke 17:14 also tells us that as the lepers followed the directive of Christ, they were cleansed. You are giving us a very important element to wholeness, Heavenly Father, because if the lepers had not followed the directions of Jesus Christ, they would not have been made whole. It was acting upon the Word they received that activated their faith. But there is also another key element to the wholeness that You offer through the Lord Jesus Christ. Most of the ten lepers forgot it, and most of us forget it as well.
Luke 17:15-18 says, “15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” 16 He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?19 And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.” The others did not receive forgiveness of their sins because they did not humble themselves in gratitude before Your throne of grace and mercy. Out of the ten, only one had it within him to demonstrate this reverence and give You the glory You so richly deserve.
Thankfulness to You must be in our hearts. You tell us in Philippians 4:6 that we shouldn’t be anxious for anything, but in EVERYTHING by prayer and with THANKSGIVING, we are to make our requests before You. We must have a deep well of gratitude in our hearts for all that You are, for all You’ve done for us, and for what You are going to do for us in the future.
Thanksgiving is such an important part of worshipping You, Heavenly Father. It is integral to walking in the wholeness that Jesus Christ has made available. Please help us to open our eyes wide to what it means to be truly thankful. Please renew in us a right spirit and create in us a new heart, one that is filled to overflowing with gratitude for the good news of Jesus Christ.
Please also open our eyes to the many opportunities to be a blessing to others. You have sprinkled these opportunities throughout our everyday realities. If we are faithful to honor You through the Spirit, we will not miss them, but heed our calling to carry forth the ministry of reconciliation. We must walk in faith so that we will move when You tell us to and receive the reward You want to give us.
Thank You for our Blessed Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, and thank You for the Holy Spirit. Let Your Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In the precious and powerful name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“One out of Ten Got It Right”, written by K. Lizzie, edited by Reverend Fran Mack for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2019. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.