WHERE ARE THE NINE? Devotion for Sunday June 19, 2016
Text: Luke 17:11 – 17 Memory verse: v 17
People who had leprosy were required to try to stay away from other people and to announce their presence if they had to come near (Leviticus 13:46; Numbers 5:2, 3). It was for this reason, these lepers were in village in between Samaria and Galilee (Luke 17:11). These lepers might have heard about Jesus which made them to stand afar off and with a loud voice shouted "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" Sometimes, leprosy goes into remission. If a leper thought his leprosy had gone away, he was supposed to present himself to a priest, who could declare him clean (Leviticus 14). Jesus sent the 10 lepers to the priest before they were healed and they went! They responded in faith, and Jesus healed them on the way. Is your trust in God so strong that you act on what He says even before you see evidence that it will work?
Of the ten lepers, it was a Samaritan (Luke 17:16) that came back to thank Jesus for the mercies of healing received. This prompted Jesus to ask the question in 17:17, 18. Jesus had been distressed many times with His own people’s lack of acceptance and faith (Luke 7:9; 8:25; 12:28). This time was no different. Familiarity breeds contempt. Ten men had been healed, but only one, the foreigner (referring to the man from Samaria), came back to give glory to God. Jesus was not so much concerned about being thanked as He was about the men’s understanding of what had happened. The other nine went off, free from leprosy but not necessarily free from sin through the salvation Jesus could offer. What is usually your attitude when God does something for you? Do you return to thank Him or you behave like the nine?
Food for Thought: “A man’s indebtedness is not virtue; his repayment is. Virtue begins when he dedicates himself actively to the job of gratitude” – Ruth Benedict.
Prayer: Grant unto me O God, a heart of gratitude for everything you do for me.
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