Sometimes, Jesus taught using a short story that illustrated
a moral attitude or a religious principle. Today, we continue to value
these lessons, and we call them the Parables of Jesus.
An interesting such parable is found in the Book of Luke
(17:11 - 19). Jesus says he was on his way to Jerusalem and passed
through a village on the border of Samaria and Galilee. At the edge of
that village ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance
and called out in loud voices, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"
Leprosy was and is a disfiguring disease. Lepers were
considered "unclean" and were required to keep a distance from
others. Only after being declared healed and "clean" by a priest
could a leper re-enter society.
When he saw them, Jesus said, "Go, show yourselves to
the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.
One of the lepers, when he saw he was healed, came back to
Jesus, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and
thanked him. This might have been unexpected, because the man was a
Samaritan and Jesus was a Jew ------ and each group despised the other, as
ethnic and religious half-breeds.
Then Jesus asked, "Were not all ten
cleansed? Where are the other nine? Are none of them going to
return and give praise to God, except this foreigner?" Then Jesus
said to the Samaritan, "Rise and go; Your faith has made you
well."
Suppose you were one of the other nine? How would you
rationalize not going back to Jesus to say "Thanks"? Perhaps
you couldn't find Jesus. Or, you weren't grateful enough to make the
effort. Maybe, now that you had what you wanted you simply moved on to
other things. Or, were you too busy being re-united with your family and
friends. Were you interested only in the miracle, not in the one
providing it?
At this Christmas time, how do we express our gratitude to
God for the daily, unearned miracles in our lives? Are we one of those
who is more interested in what God can do for us than in God himself? You
probably don't neglect thanking your friends and family for the things they
have done for you!
Do you see that Jesus has healed or "cleansed" you
at times in the past? How do you need "cleansing" right now?
Perhaps it is time to thank God for entering our lives through the birth of
Jesus, which is the essence of Christmas ---- its not just personal
gifts and hugs. If we forget to thank God, whom do we thank for the
unearned miracles we continue to be given?
____________________________________________________________________________
These thoughts are brought to you by CPC's Adult
Spiritual Development Team, hoping to encourage your spiritual
growth this season.
________________________________________________________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment