Luke 17: 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?”
Ten men had lives full of pain and disease, and Jesus made them new. I am sure if you asked any one of them, they would tell you Jesus did it. I am sure they would have nice things to say about Christ.
But only one "when he saw he was healed', came back to worship and give thanks. One out of ten had a heart so full of gratitude that it changed how he acted, changed where he went, and changed what he did. It should be noted that he didn't return to "earn" his healing, only to thank God for it.
Jesus asks him a question that should pierce our hearts..."where are the other nine?"... because all of us, at one time or another, have been the other nine. All of us have had days when we forgot the "disease" from which we were delivered.
Only this forgetfulness can explain our propensity to judge and withhold forgiveness from others. Only this forgetfulness can explain our inability to schedule time to be still and worship.
So I will ask you, are you one of the other nine today ?
If so don't dwell on it - just stop where you are...Turn around, run back, and "throw yourself at Jesus feet". Thank Him for His unimaginable grace that would redeem your lost soul. Then offer redemption to those lost souls he puts in your path.
Lionel Hampton once said, "Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind." Remember your condition when God found you and store that memory in your heart. It will drive you back to Jesus and fuel a grateful life of praising Him.
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