One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him – and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”
Luke 17:15-18
On His way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. Along the road, ten lepers cried out to Him to be healed.
Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priest, as this was dictated by the law after a cure. On their way, they were cleansed. One of the lepers who had been healed returned to Jesus, thanking and praising God for his healing.
Jesus commended him for his grateful heart and rebuked the nine who did not give thanks.
Several things jump out at me in our Scripture reading for today.
First of all, it was the Samaritan who gave thanks to God. Normally Jews did not associate with Samaritans, and the Samaritans were not considered on an equal footing with the Jews, socially or religiously. Yet, the Samaritan gave thanks. It is easy to get caught up with “religion” and not relationship. The Samaritan’s heart was touched by Jesus’ extended mercy, and he responded with gratitude. As the Lord is faithful to us, it is natural to grow in our relationship with Him and respond with gratitude.
The other thing that catches my attention in the reading is that the lepers were healed “on the way” to presenting themselves to the priest. The lepers were not healed until they responded in faith to the words of Christ.
It must have been difficult to leave the leper camp still covered in the effects of leprosy, believing that they were healed. As they went, they were cleansed and their faith grew.
We must respond to God’s Word in faith. On our spiritual journey with Christ, we sometimes must believe before we see rather than see before we believe. Faith grows when we choose to believe God’s Word.
Are you responding to God’s faithfulness in your life with a heart filled with gratitude? Are you responding to God’s Word in faith, believing before you see results? Praise God in all things; believe God in all things; trust Him as you walk with Him today.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for Your faithfulness in my every day life. Forgive me when I am ungrateful.
Help me to respond to Your Word, believing before I am able to see.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
