is motivated to go on blessing and being blessed just as God said it would be in the days of Abram
(Genesis12:2-3). Saying, ‘thank you’ with sincerity from a heart fi lled with gratitude releases positive
emotions and responses that set up a tidal-wave of blessings.
Jesus was not so much concerned about being thanked as He was about the men’s understanding
of what happened. The nine went off, free from leprosy but not necessarily free from sin through the
salvation Jesus could offer. This one man was freed, so Jesus sent him on his way with the knowledge
that his faith had made him well. He not only had a restored body, his soul had been restored as well.
God’s grace is for everybody. Jesus healed all ten lepers but only one returned to thank Him. Only the
thankful man learned that his faith had played a role in his healing; and only grateful Christians grow
in understanding God’s grace. God does not demand that we thank Him but He is pleased when we do
so. He uses our responsiveness to teach us more about Himself.
Sometimes those who are in the world (at a distance from Jesus), have more faith and take more time to
praise God and thank Him than we Christians do.
I work with people who are not churchgoers. Many of them are despised in their community. Some are
addicts, alcoholics or criminals. They are like Samaritans, foreigners, disliked by those around them who
consider themselves better. Yet when the Lord Jesus touches their lives (e.g. in healing) they give Him
thanks and proclaim (shout loudly) about what God has done. They unashamedly tell others. Sadly, many
times when Christians receive a touch from God they are so quiet about it that no-one knows.
Lord Jesus, please help us to give loud praise and thanksgiving to you for all your goodness to us. Amen.
Peter Stanway The Way Ministries - www.thewaycm.com
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