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Msg #584 Wed November 25, 2009
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one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. (Luke 17:15–16)
Falling down…giving thanks – it was the right thing to do!
This man had been a leper. Leprosy was a slowly progressing, painful, and incurable skin disease. A Leper was ostracized from society to protect others. In many ways, Leprosy is a good Biblical picture of sin and its effects and consequences in each and every one of us.
But this man was healed of his leprosy. He had seen Jesus cried out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
Jesus did have mercy, and this man was incredibly and wonderfully healed.
Falling down…giving thanks – it was the uncommon thing to do.
It should not have been this way….yet it was. See, although this man was healed… he was not alone. There were ten who were lepers that day…and all ten were healed
.. there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. ” (Luke 17:12–14)
Ten were healed…wonderfully, miraculously…but only one returned to say thanks.
And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks..” (Luke 17:15–16)
Truly…such a lack of thankfulness caught the attention of Jesus
So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” ” (Luke 17:17–18)
One out of ten came back to say thanks. I put to you that such a percentage instead of being an abnormality…is probably very normal. Tomorrow we celebrate Thanksgiving. Many will enjoy it and most will think that they are “thankful people”. Yet, I have a sneaking suspicion that only one in ten is really thankful.
I have a challenge for you to think about today. What in the world could the other nine have been thinking that kept them from returning to the Lord and being thankful? How can they have been so blessed by God…and yet not be thankful?
As you ponder that…I ask you to apply it to yourself. Again…I sadly believe that people really being thankful to the Lord…is more rare than any of us realize.
Today…tomorrow I solidly challenge you to be one of the few that really return to the Lord in thanksgiving!
Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare His works with rejoicing. ” (Psalm 107:21–22)
But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money …. unthankful … ” (2 Timothy 3:1–2)
Jim
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