(Part
2 of 2)
“Feeling gratitude and not expressing it
is like wrapping a present and not giving it.”
William
Arthur Ward
In
Luke 17:11-13 we read about Jesus’ encounter with ten lepers as he was
traveling on his way to Jerusalem. In this passage we learn some interesting
things about them:
“Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled
along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village,
ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a
loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
All
ten were afflicted with the same disease. They had all been separated from
family and friends, given up jobs, and had to struggle with the same physical
ailments. All ten of them cried out to Jesus for help and verse 14 tells us
that they all responded in obedience and were healed:
“When he saw them, he said, “Go show
yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were healed.”
However,
this is where one of them distinguishes himself from the rest. One of them,
recognizing he was healed, stopped everything he was doing and returned to the
source of his blessing. The other nine pushed ahead to show themselves to the
priests.
One
commentator wrote in regards to them: “The
nine lepers had their minds on the future, on resuming the life they had left
behind because of the illness. Their minds were full of scenes of reunions with
wives and children. There is no indication that their goals and future actions
were anything but respectable.”
These
were not bad men, however, when the one man returned Jesus immediately asked:
“Were
not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and
praise God except this foreigner?”
Luke
17:17-18
Don’t
confuse appreciation with gratitude! They are not synonyms. Gratitude will
always culminate with an expression of thanksgiving or praise!
The
Samaritan was grateful for the grace he received and expressed it in the form
of praise. The other nine, though appreciative of the benefit they received;
never expressed their gratitude towards Christ. Because of this, the foreigner was
transformed and received much more than his physical healing. Scripture says he
was made whole (healed, saved, and delivered), not merely cleansed.
By
not expressing their gratitude, the nine shortchanged themselves, but more
significantly they robbed God of praise.
Here
is the rub. According to Scripture, the one that returned was a Samaritan and
the other nine were, likely, Jewish. It is sad, that so often the value and
blessing of God’s grace is lost on those who ought to realize it most. As
Christians, we ought to be the most grateful, thankful people on the planet and
so in turn be the most expressive with our gratitude!
Pastor
Scott Burr
http://faithandworshipseries.blogspot.com/
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