Luke 17:12-19  NASB As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; and they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed. Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.”

One of my long-time friends sends the best thank you notes. When her children were very small and I would give them a gift, she would send me a picture of a sweet baby wearing a new hat or holding a new pillow. Then as they got older she would let them decorate the thank you note or envelope with stickers, and now that they are learning to write—they write the thank you notes themselves (they usually come with a translation). The thank you notes exude gratitude because there is obvious time and thought put into expressing that gratitude.

The Samaritan leper put the time and thought into expressing gratitude to Jesus for his healing. The other nine continued on to the priests, but he took the time to be thankful! Now it wasn’t his gratitude that saved him from leprosy; Jesus said it was his faith. The other nine had the same faith (they all turned to go to the priests and show they were healed even before they could see they were healed) but only one took the time for thanksgiving. It is by our faith in Christ that we are saved, but let’s be sure and take the time for thanksgiving!

-Kevi

 

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