Be Like the One Thankful Healed Leper

Have you ever prayed to God for something specific, and He answered your request? It’s a powerful experience when God provides exactly what we ask for, though in His wisdom, He doesn’t always grant our requests exactly as we envision them or at the time we expect. Yet, sometimes, He does. When that happens, what should we do? We can learn an important lesson from an account of Jesus' journey to Jerusalem, where He encountered ten lepers.

For those who contracted leprosy in biblical times, life became isolating and difficult. Leprosy not only ravaged the skin, eyes, and nerves, but it also required people to be separated from society to prevent the spread of the disease. The ten lepers Jesus encountered were likely living in this painful isolation when they saw Him approaching. They called out to Him, asking for mercy, and Jesus responded with compassion.

Jesus instructed them to go and show themselves to the priests, who were responsible for declaring individuals clean from leprosy (Leviticus 13:17). As they obeyed His command and made their way to the priests, something remarkable happened—they were healed.

At this point in the story, we see something truly noteworthy in Luke 17:15-17:
“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God,and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, ‘Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?’” (NKJV)

While we might think that anyone who experienced such a miraculous healing would immediately return to thank God, only one out of the ten did so. This account serves as a reminder that it’s easy to take God’s blessings for granted and forget to give thanks for His mercy and provision.

As we reflect on this story, we should ask ourselves: Are we among the few who remember to thank God for His blessings? Just as the healed leper returned to express his gratitude, we too should continually offer our thanks to God in prayer and in our actions. It is always appropriate to pause and reflect on the many ways God has answered our prayers and provided for us in the past.

In Psalm 107, we are called to give thanks to God for His goodness and His marvelous works:

“Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:31, NKJV)

The Apostle Paul frequently wrote about the importance of giving thanks to God, urging believers to cultivate a heart of gratitude. In Ephesians 5:20, Paul encourages us to be thankful in all circumstances:

“Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Ephesians 5:20, NKJV)

In times of discouragement or difficulty, one way to shift our focus is to reflect on all the ways God has blessed us throughout our lives. Remembering past blessings and answered prayers can help us regain a spirit of thanksgiving and joy.

As we approach each new day, may we always be among those who remember to thank God for His goodness, His provision, and His answered prayers. Let us never take His blessings for granted but return to Him with a grateful heart, just as the one healed leper did.

May you have a joyful Sabbath!