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 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,
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 that
time generally despised Samaritans as ethnic and religious half-breeds.
Jesus asked, "Were not all ten 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 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 reunited with 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 miracles of our lives? Whom do you know who is actively
grateful to God for everything?
Can you relate personally to the pain of physical
condition, or the pain of social barriers? How about being more interested in
what God can do for us than in God himself? Do you neglect to thank
others? Right now, whom do you need to thank for something 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" now?
Perhaps it is time to thank God for entering our lives through the birth of
Jesus, which is the essence of Christmas ----- not just the gifts
and hugs. If we forget to thank God, whom do we thank? Merry
Christmas!
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These thoughts are brought to you by the CPC Adult
Spiritual Development Team, hoping to encourage your spiritual growth this
season.
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