Thankful

Luke 17:11-19 (The Message)

It happened that as he made his way toward Jerusalem, he crossed over the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him. They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"

Taking a good look at them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests."

They went, and while still on their way, became clean. One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus' feet, so grateful. He couldn't thank him enough—and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus said, "Were not ten healed? Where are the nine? Can none be found to come back and give glory to God except this outsider?" Then he said to him, "Get up. On your way. Your faith has healed and saved you."

What do you do when you have those wonderful, transcendent moments of clarity ---- those moments when you really realize the great good that God does in your life?

You have those, right? I really hope that you do.

I wish that those moments of realization came more often in my own life. Most likely, we all do.

But they do come. Moments when one of my children laughs and smiles in a beautiful way. Moments when friends and family remind me that I am loved and accepted. Moments of community and beauty and hope that God really can make things right in this world.

When those amazing moments of healing come --- what comes next?

While on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus met ten lepers. These folks were desperately ill, both physically and emotionally. They were shunned by their communities because of their disease. They were ritually (religiously, in the eyes of ancient Judaism) unclean.

"Taking a good look at them," Jesus sent them on the way to the priests....knowing that they would be healed and that the blessing of the priests could signal their re-entry into the community.

One of the lepers, while still on the way, had a moment of realization. He realized that he was healed...and what came next was gratitude.

What a wonderful lesson for all of us. No matter how things may seem to you on the surface of your life today, there is so much to be thankful for.

There is power in thanking Jesus. Christianity, at its core, is a life lived in gratitude for the grace and gift that we receive.

Gratitude is an amazing way of life. May God cultivate that kind of life in me, and in us all.

Prayer: We name before you in our hearts those things for which we are truly thankful. Your blessings in our lives know no end. May we live in response to the good things you always give.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen. Tomorrow's Scripture (no blog): Psalm 66:8-12

We'll see you in worship this Sunday at SOTH! 9 and 11 AM with Sunday School for the whole family at 10:15!