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About-Him.Com Devotional 07-31-04
In re-reading the segment below, my mind wondered about the many things that we take for granted and never really stop to thank the Lord for. I wonder how much our prayer petitions are hindered because of our ingratitude?
I went to bed last night with a roof over my head and great pain in my body. I got up without assistance and automatically made my way to the kitchen. The water was running and the food in the refrigerator was cold. I mumbled something about, Lord bless this food to the nourishment of my body, Amen.
I probably could have done better than that, don't you think?
The Life of Christ from His Baptism to His Ascension:
144: Healing of the Ten Lepers - Luke 17:11-19
Luke 17:11 ¶ And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
As Jesus continues on his final journey to Jerusalem , He journeyed through Galilee and then Samaria on his way south to Judea. At the outskirts of a particular village He heard the cry, “ Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” Ten men who were lepers were crying out, knowing that Jesus was their only hope. They probably knew that He had healed lepers before (Matthew 8:1-4). They were outcast who were forbidden to enter the town and who could not touch or communicate with other people. They were in effect, the living dead.
Jesus simply said, "Go show yourself to the priest." As they were going they were cleansed. One of them, a Samaritan, noticing that he had been healed, returned to Jesus and with a grateful heart fell down to worship Him .
"Where are the nine,?" Jesus exclaimed. "Did I not heal ten, and only this Samaritan returned to thank me?"
Conclusion and Application:
Once again, our text illustrated the Jesus does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, sex, or anything else that we use to categorize people. He responds to faith whenever and from whomever He finds it.
Jesus commanded that the lepers go to the priest and show themselves. Note that they were not healed until after they had obeyed the Lord’s command. A good lesson for us.
According to the Levitical law, only the priest could declare a leper cleansed, and this only after many sacrifices and rituals. It is my understanding that no one up until that point had ever recovered from leprosy. Also, the rabbis had a tradition concerning miracles. They had listed miracles in the order of difficulty to perform. Lesser miracles could theoretically be performed by anyone who was used by the Spirit of God. But the curing of leprosy was reserved for Messiah only.
When Jesus had first healed a leper (Matthew 8:4), He instructed the man to show himself to the priest as a testimony to them. Seems that in both instances He is saying. “Go tell the priest of Israel, that Messiah is here.” Indeed He is!
Where are the nine? It is hard to understand the ungratefulness of these other nine who were healed. However, considering the manifold blessings of the Lord that we take for granted as our God given rights, do we not often fall into the same trap? I trust not.
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Humor
The banker fell overboard from a friend's sailboat.
The friend grabbed a life preserver, held it up, not knowing if the banker could swim, and shouted,"Can you float alone?"
"Obviously" the banker replied. "But this is no time to talk business!"
Quote
"If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him." - C.T. Studd
Keep Looking Up!
Don & Marie Spooner
About Him! Ministries
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