Sometimes I have to ask
about my kids, “Where are they?” especially when it comes to house cleaning,
setting up a tent site, decorating the house for Christmas, when I’m in the car
waiting for them, etc. It seems they
just disappear when things need to be done!
(Ok, many of us try to avoid things we don’t like: dishes, cleaning,
going out in the cold…) Anyway, it is
more difficult to imagine someone giving you the greatest gift and not thanking
them in return.
And as He (Jesus) entered into a certain village, ten
leprous men met Him, who stood afar off. And they lifted voice and said, Jesus,
Master, pity us! And seeing them, He
said to them, Go show yourselves to the priests. And it happened, as they went,
that they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed,
turned back and glorified God with a loud voice. And he fell down on his face at His feet, thanking Him. And he was a
Samaritan. And answering, Jesus said, Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Lk 17:12-17
Just where were the other
nine? They all went to show themselves
to the priests as told (an act of obedience) but when healed, only one turned
back to glorify Jesus. I think Jesus was
making a point to those around him: it was a hated Samaritan who worshipped Him.
How many times a day do we neglect to thank
Him for all He’s done? We woke up
breathing, probably walking, talking, hearing, putting on clothes, eating, driving
a car, bringing kids to school, going to a job, spending money on coffee,
laughing with co-workers, talking on our cell…
The list of miraculous blessings in our lives is endless.
Most of all, at this time
of year, we should be thanking Jesus for leaving his God space to come and live
as a poor newborn baby in a filthy, sinful world to be rejected and murdered
for our sins which He bore for us on the cross- our death penalty cross!
That salvation is ours every day and so we should be thankful, falling
on our knees worshipping the One who gave so much for love of us.
Oh Lord, help us not be like the nine, but to turn back like the one, to
fall at Your feet thanking You for every
thing big and small. May we never
hear You say of us, “Where are you?”