Pastor's corner - Aug. 5, 2010

One who gave thanks

Luke 17:11-19 can teach us a couple of great principles in the Christian faith. It’s the story of the ten lepers that were healed.

The first thing I would like to point out in this passage is all 10 were cleansed. Jesus didn’t make a big deal out of it. In verse 13 it says they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” Jesus didn’t ask them their political views, if they were worthy, or if they had given to the treasury of the temple lately. He didn’t ask them to confess all of their sins. Jesus saw a need and addressed it.

When Jesus saw them, all He did was say, “Go show yourselves to the Priests.” That was it. No words of wisdom or further instructions and no condemnation for how they got the disease. My point here is there was nothing they could do to heal themselves and there was nothing they could do to hasten their healing. They were totally relying on God to heal them of the terrible disease. And, God came through. He saw their need and healed them. And in keeping with the law, Jesus sent them to the Priests to present themselves and be declared “clean.”

God provides. He provides for all of our needs. He knows our needs before we do. We don’t always see or understand His provision, but it is there. It’s our desires that get us into trouble. It is our desires that we can thank ourselves for. Those things that God does not provide for but we go for it anyway.

One of the lepers was different though. In verses 15-19 there is one leper who was healed, and he came back to give glory where glory was due. It says as soon as he saw he was healed he returned to Jesus and fell on his face and gave Him thanks. He cried out with a loud voice giving glory to God. He didn’t care who heard him or saw him. He wanted everyone to know what God had done for him. He wanted everyone to know of the miraculous healing that occurred at the word of Jesus.

What’s really cool is this guy isn’t even a Jew. He is a Samaritan. He was a foreigner, some versions say. And yet, Jesus healed him too. And, he was the one who came back. Jesus even asks where the other nine are. We can infer that the other nine were Jews. They have no reason not to believe the miraculous healing power of God. They have no reason not to give thanks and glory to God for their cleansing. Yet they didn’t. It’s almost as if they felt they were entitled to it, almost as if they thought they deserved it, but not the one. He knew he didn’t deserve it. He knew he couldn’t do anything for it. He knew all he could do was give glory to God and thank Jesus.

Sometimes we see God’s provision and we take it for granted.

We, especially in America, have gotten into this entitlement mind-set.

We have been so well off for so long, we believe we deserve it.

We believe we should have everything and it should be given to us.

Look at the state of our nation.

Not only financially, though that is a great indicator of our selfishness and gluttony for our own sinful desires, but look at our nation and the western world when it comes to non financial things.

We are a self-absorbed bunch that thinks the world owes us something.

We think the world should take care of us.

When we can’t obtain our own selfish desires, we cry out and want to know why and want someone to help provide for our own selfish desires.

We need to stop and think about our needs and how God has already provided for us in the past, and how He continues to provide in the present, and trust in how He will provide in the future. The one Samaritan knew it and gave thanks. He knew his healing was nothing of his own doing or any of the people around him. He knew that it was God who healed Him through the word of Jesus Christ.

We truly live a blessed life here in America. We need to give thanks and glory where thanks and glory are due, to God.

Rev. Brian E. Conklin

Garfield Community Church

of the Assemblies of God