WHERE ARE THE OTHER NINE?
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. As he entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”
Luke 17:11-19 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
This is such a sad story. Jesus heals ten men of leprosy but only one returns to give thanks for their healing. We read the story and are shocked at the ingratitude of the nine. But perhaps we should pause and ask if we aren’t sometimes like the nine. It is easy to forget the amazing things God has done for us. The times He healed us; the times He protected us; the times He provided for us; the times He forgave our sin and stupidity and the times He gave us direction. This list could go on and on. Recently I was preaching in a service about giants we sometimes face. Suddenly I was overcome with emotion when I remembered some of the giants I have faced. I remembered being in a hospital room when a team of doctors told Cindy and I that they thought our two-and-a-half year old son had leukemia. Two days later we left the hospital with a healthy boy because God chose to do a miracle. That son just celebrated his thirty-eighth birthday with a wife and two amazing children. I remember when I faced a major back surgery that we prayed and worked for ten months to avoid having. In His sovereignty God chose to not bring an instant healing and I underwent two very invasive surgeries that left me with a fused back from L1 to L5. There were eight weeks of hard work to be able to function again. It was two years before I fully recovered but God was with me all the way. Step by step He guided me back to health. I am thankful for the miracles of God and for the presence of God. He has always been with us even in the moments of struggle and difficulty. He is God and today I pause to say thanks for His mercy and grace. What do you have to be thankful for?
TODAY’S PRAYER
Holy Spirit please help me to be thankful in all things. Help me to remember to give You thanks.
“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”
lord thank you for everything you’ve given me, and help me to always be thankful, because not everyone has what I have.
God has been so good to me. His grace and mercy keep surprising me with good things.