What A Difference Giving Thanks Makes

There is an amazing and challenging miracle recorded for us by Luke. Ten lepers, who were excluded by society, did not dare to approach Jesus and the disciples for fear of being stoned to death, because their disease was feared so much. So, they call out to Him, pleading to be healed. From a distance, He tells them to go and show themselves to the priest, which would indicate they had been healed and just needed to receive confirmation of the fact. They accept this and, as they head in that direction, they are all miraculously healed.

That’s wonderful news. But despite this incredible healing having taken place in such a way that all ten are fully aware of it, only one of them is moved to come to Jesus and give thanks to Him. Only one out of ten bother to do so. What makes it stranger is that this one was a Samaritan and the other nine were Jews. Of them all, an outsider chooses to come and personally give thanks. As a result, Jesus declares that he has been made whole. Wait a moment! What has just happened here?

Ten lepers were healed of leprosy. That means all the obvious visible effects of leprosy were completely removed from their bodies. However, the effects of their leprosy remained – loss of fingers, toes, ears and even a foot or hand, or both, remained missing.  But, to this single ex-leper that came to give thanks to Jesus, he alone was made whole. Whole! That means all that he had lost as a result of leprosy was restored – new fingers, toes, ears, foot, or hand. All was restored, because that’s what ‘made whole’ means.

Doesn’t that suggest to us that giving thanks to God for what He has done for us makes a difference? It’s clear that is what Jesus expected to happen, because He questions why only one out of ten bothered to do it. That makes me sit up and take stock of the number of times I’ve failed to thank God for the many things He has blessed me with.

OK, I haven’t been healed and made whole of leprosy, but I have been healed and made whole of other diseases and conditions. I have been blessed by God in more ways than I can count. And maybe that’s part of the problem. Has it happened so many times that I’ve become used to it, hardened to it, accepting of it?

Have I inadvertently fallen into the camp of the nine lepers, when I should be kneeling before my Lord and King and thanking Him from the bottom of my heart for all He’s done for me?  I know I should. Do you?