By Sam Nobles
“Then one of them,
when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice;
and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a
Samaritan.” (Luke 17:15-16 ESV)
True thanksgiving
is purposefully looking past our blessings, even the channels through which
they come, and realizing the source of them. As believers, thanksgiving is
fundamental because we have been forgiven, saved from eternal separation from
God, and even adopted into God’s family. I can’t think of a better reason for a
person to be thankful.
During the time of
Jesus, there were local outcasts who had a highly contagious disease known as
leprosy. Their condition ostracized them from their friends, family, community,
and synagogue. These poor lepers had no love, no support, and seemingly no way
to encounter God. This all changed for 10 lepers who placed themselves in a
village between Samaria and Galilee. As Jesus passed through, they desperately
called out to Him to have mercy on them. Jesus commanded these 10 lepers to go
and show themselves to the priest, and as they obeyed, they noticed they were
healed. These 10 men who had been forbidden to come live in their homes, work
at their jobs, or even hug their children were now unrestrained by what used to
be their death sentence. I can only imagine the joy unspeakable that filled
them that day.
One of the lepers,
a Samaritan by race, a people group usually shunned by the Jews, stopped and
went back to thank Jesus for healing him. Jesus asked this man, “Were not ten cleansed? Where
are the nine?” Ten lepers had been healed, ten lepers were enjoying their newfound
health, ten lepers were joyfully rushing to share the good news with their
family and friends, but only one considered the source of that blessing and
stopped to give thanks. Jesus told this leper, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made
you well.” The idea is that
even
though the nine
were cleansed from leprosy, the tenth was cleansed from leprosy and saved from his sin as well.
As Christians, we
have more reason than any to be thankful and give our thanks to Jesus Christ.
He has saved us and given us an abundant life that lasts for an eternity. Is it
possible though, that we, like the nine lepers are quick to rush off and glory
in our blessings without first stopping to give thanks to the One who made it
possible? Remember the source of your blessings. Give thanks to Jesus Christ.
Scripture to Claim:
“The one who
offers thanksgiving as his sacrifice glorifies me; to one who orders his way
rightly I will show the salvation of God!” (Psalm 50:23)
