This morning I heard a sermon taught on Luke 17:11-19. It is the story where Jesus heals ten men with leprosy. Jesus was traveling along the border between Samaria and Galilee and as he was going into a village ten men approached him with leprosy. They stood at a distance and called in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”. Jesus healed all of them. But the part I absolutely love and struck a chord with me was verse 15. It says ONE of them came back praising God in a loud voice after he was healed. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him- and he was a Samaritan.
So where were the other 9? He healed 10 guys right? He was the only one who really SAW Jesus! He stopped and was in awe of what Jesus had done for him! The others just were like yeah we are healed and went on their merry way. It made me think. Which am I? Do I react like the one guy or like the other 10 when God does something great in life? Do I see with my heart like the one guy did? When we really stop and see what God is doing, we are in awe! How long has it been since I have done that? God is doing awesome things in my life all the time! I mean I don’t have leprosy or anything, but He has given me the freedom to worship anywhere and anytime I want, a loving and supportive community of family and friends, a great job, the opportunity of a lifetime to serve him on the World Race for 11 months, and countless other blessings! I want to share with you a few thoughts from this morning that God really used to speak to my heart.
First of all, the odds are against us! Think about the story in the bible, there were 10 men! Only one of them came back and thanked and praised Jesus for what he did. If we want to be the one, we will not be in the majority! But probability doesn’t determine destiny! Don’t let the odds scare you. Taking time to be in awe of what God is doing in your life is so worth it, even if most people are not doing it! I have committed to making this a priority in my life. Be like the one!
Second, those that should be the most thankful are rarely the ones found being thankful. I have found that those that have the least are praising Jesus the loudest. We should be the ones shouting thanks from the rooftops. I was really convicted this morning. Yes, I’m thankful, but I am defiantly not shouting it from the rooftops. Jesus died for me and rose again! His grace covered me and continues to cover me! He loved me before I knew what love was! Come on people being saved from our sins is something way more to shout about than being healed from leprosy!!!
Now I don’t know what you are going through in your life. Things happen and will continue to this side of heaven. We live in a broken world! I get it, I’ve been in circumstances where I think that I can’t go on. My heart has been shattered to the point where I don’t know how it will ever be put back together. But I also know that we serve a chain breaker, a way maker, and a broken heart healer!!! (yes we sang that song this morning too!) He has been so faithful in my life! He has held me when I can’t see a way out. We all have something to be thankful for!! I encourage you to be the ONE. Be that person that stops and says thank you to Jesus. Be the one that comes back praising God in a loud voice no matter what is going on! I choose to be the ONE! Do you??
I encourage you to continue to follow my journey! I love sharing what God is doing in and around my life.
