Though Jesus healed 10 lepers, only one returned praising God loudly, thanking Jesus profusely. Jesus responded, “Were not all 10 cleansed? Where are the other 9?” (pp Luke 17:12-19)
Jesus, we’re all in this story, but if we could choose our part, it’d be the role of the healed, grateful, loud-praising Samaritan who returned to give you thanks. Why didn’t the other 9 come back leaping, shouting and thanking you profusely? That’s not ours to say, but what IS ours to do is to get, be, and remain in a state of gratitude.
Jesus, with all the gladness and loudness we can muster, we thank you today for healing us of the greatest malady imaginable—spiritual death. We were “separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world” (Eph.2:12). Indeed, we were lifeless, Christless, stateless, hopeless, and Godless. It doesn’t get ANY worse… but by the Gospel, it DID get a whole lot better.
By your great mercy and measureless grace, we are now alive in you and robed in your righteousness, enveloped in your love and sealed by your Spirit. On top of it all, we are destined for an eternity of wiped tears, redeemed pain, new bodies, all things new, perfect relationships, a perfect world, no more brokenness, only glory. None of this is “pie in the sky”; it’s grace on the ground—actual not theoretical. Hallelujah!
Jesus, in the Spirit of the grateful leper—make us 100 times more aware of what we do have in and by you. Keep us from saying “Yes, but” to the riches of the Gospel. As in, “Yes all that Gospel stuff is good, BUT… I’m not adored by a spouse, kids, grands, or anyone. My friends forgot the anniversary of my pet’s passing. Our Thanksgiving day won’t be as fun, loving, and ‘cuddly’ as a Hallmark movie.” Jesus, we’re a mess; but we’re your beloved mess. Thank you, and So Very Amen.
