LUKE 17:11-19 – “On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up 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 went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.””

THEME OF THE DAY: LESSONS FROM SOME LEPERS.  These ten individuals were desperate. Leprosy was no joke, an incurable disease from a human standpoint.  No hope existed for them unless a Divine Hand did a divine work in them. Maybe, Jesus is the One who might do such a work. Well, again, they were desperate and Luke records they met Jesus as He traveled between Samaria and Galilee with cries for mercy from their lips.  And mercy is what all ten received, and from their responses, we learn two valuable lessons about our daily walks with the Lord Jesus.

The first lesson is in the form of a question of identity – who are we most like as the Lord pours forth to us daily blessings of His mercy and grace?  Are we like nine of ten lepers who enjoyed the mercy and grace of the Lord but lacked the response of worshipful thanksgiving?  These nine wanted the blessings from the Lord but were forgetful to be thankful to the Lord.  It is easy to do this . . . be more concerned about what the Lord does for us than the Lord Himself.

The other response was the minority – one leper.  What did he do?  Luke writes – “Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks”.  Here is the proper response to God’s blessings; intentionality in worship, honor, and the giving of thanks for the undeserved treatment received from the Lord.  We should thoroughly evaluate ourselves by the two distinct responses from the lepers. The former was self-centered. It was all about them, not the Lord. The latter was God-centered and the focus was all on the Lord showing forth the fruits in a humble and grateful believer.

The second lesson from the lepers is closely tied to the first one.   In comparing the responses of the nine lepers with the one leper, we clearly see the nine taking God’s grace for granted.   And that should serve as a warning to us.

God, daily and throughout the day, showers us with so many acts of mercy and grace. We must pray and strive never to take His loving abundance toward us for granted.  As we guard our hearts against a heart lacking the spirit and practice of thanksgiving, we will safeguard ourselves from taking our God and His blessings for granted.

PRAYER: Father, help me not to take for granted Your grace by lacking to live thankful for Your grace.

REFLECTION: Living thankful to the Lord is a great means to protect us from taking Him for granted.