WEEKLY COMMENTARY: Do You Begin the New Year Thankful For What You Have Been Given ----- Or, Do You Just Ask God For More ?

    The Book of Luke (17:11 - 19) tells this story about Jesus.  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 a disfiguring disease.  Lepers were considered "unclean" and were required to keep a distance from others.  Only after bring 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, praising God in a loud voice.  He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him ---- and he was a Samaritan !  This was surprising because Jews at the time generally despised Samaritans as ethnic and religious half-breeds.

Jesus asked, "Were not all ten lepers cleansed?  Where are the other nine?  Are none of them 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 have you rationalized 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 have what you wanted you simply moved on to other things?  Or, were you too busy being united with family and friends?  Were you interested only in the miracle, not in the one providing it?

At the start of this new year, how do we express our gratitude to God for the daily unearned miracles of 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 things they have done for you !

Do you see that Jesus has healed or "cleansed" you at times in the past?  How might you need "cleansing" now?  Perhaps it is time to thank God for entering our lives ---- not just through the birth of Jesus, which was the essence of Christmas.  What about the daily gifts we receive from God?   If we forget to thank God for these gifts large and small, whom do we thank?
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These thoughts have been brought to you by the CPC Adult Spiritual Development Team, hoping to encourage your spiritual growth this season.
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