Ten Started Out, One Came Back

Are you familiar with the story of the ten lepers whom Jesus healed? Their story can be found in the 17^th chapter of Luke, starting at verse 11. As Jesus was passing by a village in between Samaria and Galilee, the ten lepers begged for healing. Jesus just told them to show themselves to the priests. It may seem like a strange command because lepers were quarantined and isolated from ordinary people. But the lepers obeyed. They started out in an act of faith heading for the priests. And as they went, they were cleansed. Ten of them were cleansed but one turned back, “glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him.” And Jesus said “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine - where are they?” He said to the leper who returned, “Stand up and go, your faith has made you well…” In Greek, it says, “your faith has saved you.”

Ten got healed, one got saved. It is a wonderful story for one but it is a tragedy for the other nine. It illustrates that how ugly ingratitude is, being unthankful...How is it that these people could so quickly forget the very one who was the source of their cleansing? Perhaps because it is the sin of fallen man. It is the very nature of men to feel unsatisfied with what they have. But ingratitude should not characterize God’s people. We can understand that nine lepers who didn't know God could be thankless. We can understand a world of thankless people. But it is hard to understand a thankless Christian when we know what the Lord has done for us. Take note that Jesus was looking for the other nine. God expects us to have a thankful heart. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 gives a very brief command, “In everything, give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Jesus Christ.” This is what God desires from us.

Therefore, as Christians, when you are disappointed and feel depressed and you fuzz and fume and complain and feel stressed out with every little problem in your life that does not turn out the way you want to, you are sinning against your Creator and Savior. You ought to be overwhelmed with God’s bountiful grace, your heart overflowing with thanks, your mouth shouting with praise for the glory of God.

As believers, we know that God is at work in our lives. So, whatever happens to us, whatever may come into life should be treated with joy and gratitude. We ought to be thanking God for every large blessing, every small blessing, every small goodness, every large goodness, every good time and every bad time, every little thing, every little challenge that God gives us.

Just like the Psalmist, everyday you should be able to “enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and Bless His name. For the Lord is good; His loving-kindness is everlasting and His faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 100:4-5 NASB)