“Were not all ten cleansed?  Where are the other nine?”

Luke 17:11-19  11 Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” [whole kjv]

We are like the ten men with Leprosy

• All ten men with leprosy were in the same pitiful circumstance.  Outcast, in pain.  Castaway from family. They could not live a normal life.  The future was terrifying.  Life was very dark.
•  They all have heard about Jesus.  The power from God to heal and restore.
• They all cried out to Jesus.  Pleaded for His mercy to heal them.
• They were all healed as they obeyed Christ by going to the Priest.
• Only one came back to offer thanks and praise Jesus.

What happened to the other nine?  Am I in this group?

Maybe they thought God should have never allowed the disease in the first place.  Or maybe healing is Christ’s job. Or it could be they were so excited about their healing they forgot about the one who had compassion and healed them.  Maybe their new life with access to family and work was overwhelming and they forgot about giving thanks?  The bible does not say.

The Bible reminds us to be thankful always.  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.  Rejoice always,  pray continually,  give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Give thanks in ALL circumstances?  Yes, you can find something to be thankful for in all situations.  That takes some work and a perspective of understanding Christ’s involvement in your life.  In reality,  more has been done by God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit than we would ever know.

I need to look at my life through a lens of acknowledging God’s blessings and the supernatural work of Christ each day.  Accepting things could be worse but for the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Thankful – Synonyms vs Antonyms

What is my daily attitude about life?   Here are some attitudes we can have.  Can you determine which ones come from a thankful heart?  [Grateful, appreciative, pleased,  glad, happy, content, delighted, cheerful, joyful, critical, dissatisfied, sad, unappreciative, depressed, disagreeable, downhearted, gloomy, inhospitable, joyless, offensive,  ungracious, vain, holding a grudge.]  God help me keep thankfulness in my heart.

Your Faith has made you WHOLE [KJV]

The one man who returned to Jesus to thank and worship him was made whole.  What about the other nine, were they not made whole?  No, their disease of leprosy was healed,  but this man’s heart and soul were also healed. This man went home healed of leprosy, full of thanksgiving to Christ and a bright lightnside.

Thank you Jesus, thank you God, thank you Holy Spirit, for today!