Luke 17:11-19

Picture this:  you find yourself with the most dreaded disease of your day.  You have places on your skin that look atrocious.  You have nerve damage and you can’t move well because this disease makes your muscles weak.  You are in constant pain.  You are required by the law of the land to shout “unclean” anytime others get close to you.  You have heard about this man that is going through the land healing people and showing compassion.  But you have no hope because your sickness will surely keep him away from you.  You are banned to hang out with others that have the dreaded disease as well.  Even though you are with those of another tribe or nation, you band together just so you can belong to something.  You have to be always alert so you can warn others as they approach to stay away.  All of the sudden one of the others says, “Get ready, here comes some people!”  This crowd is a different kind of crowd.  Looks like there are 13 of them.  You think, “Wait a minute, that man travels with 12 others.  Could it be him?  Could this be the Jesus that we have heard about?”  They get closer….you recognize him and call out “Jesus, Master!  Have pity on us!!”  He does not move away but moves closer.  You hear his gentle voice simply say, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” You are confused, but he said it with great authority and you and 9 others begin to leave.  As you go, you have feeling back that you had lost.  Your skin is miraculously healed!  You have no more sores!  You celebrate and have five one another without fear you fingers will fall off!  They take off running to show themselves to the priests!  You stop.  You turn around and run back to Jesus shouting praises to God.  And you fall at the feet of Jesus and you thank Him for this incredible gift.  “Thank you Jesus for healing me!  Thank you for making me whole!”  Then he speaks, “Were not all ten cleansed?  Where are the other nine?  Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?  Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

What a beautiful story.  This thankful Samaritan was cleansed just like the other nine.  He was restored and given a new chance at life, just like the other nine.  But what made him different?  He noticed.  Once he noticed that his life was forever changed, he returned to say thanks.  The English Poet and Artist Dante Rossetti said “The worst moment for the atheist is when he is really thankful, and has nobody to thank.”  The Samaritan Leper knew that he had somebody to thank and he stopped dead in his tracks, left those that were running to the priests, and thanked the one who made him whole.

There are a few things you and I can learn from the example of the Samaritan Leper.

1.       We don’t have to be shy about praising God and being thankful for His goodness.

a.       Remember that praise is looking at God’s face

b.      Thanksgiving is looking at His hands

2.       Our race and social standing are the same in the eyes of Christ. 

a.       The ground is level at the foot of the cross

b.      The gift comes to us whether we receive it or not

3.       Sometimes we just have to believe that God will do what he says He will do.

4.       When we notice the gift and appreciate that gift, the gift gets bigger.

a.       Zig Ziglar wrote: “Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions.  The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.”

What are you thankful for today?  I encourage you this week to take some time alone and thank God for the blessings He has given you.  After you spend that time alone, I encourage you not to be shy about sharing it with others.