Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.
As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
Luke 17:11-19
I can still remember being a child, sitting in a small Sunday School classroom hearing stories from the Bible. (If you have a young son or daughter, make sure you are reading to them stories from God’s Word.)
Even after all these years, the story of the ten lepers being healed is one I can remember vividly.
Jesus heals ten men of leprosy. But only one (just 10%) returned to say Thank You.
It is, I have always thought, a story about the importance of being thankful (and maybe also a story about how few people actually are).
But recently I noticed something I had never considered before.
The one who returned to thank Jesus—and only him of the ten—received something the nine others did not.
He got more of Jesus. He got more time His feet. More relationship. More teaching. More encouragement. More memories. Even more blessing.
Ten men were healed. But one got more of Jesus.
And all he did was come back and say thank you.
What an important truth for us to consider.
Gratitude is the gateway for having more of Jesus!
If you want more of Jesus in your life this week (or any day)…
Thank Him for the gifts He has given you.
Thank Him for rescuing us from sin and eternal separation through Christ’s death on the cross.
Thank Him for the peace and healing you have experienced in your life.
Thank Him for walking alongside you during the darkest nights you have experienced.
Thank Him for His love and mercy and grace and faithfulness on display every day.
Thank Him for family.
Thank Him for life and breath and another day to serve and glorify Him.
Because each time you do, your action will be the same. Falling at His feet in gratitude. More time with Him. And more of Jesus in your life.
Happy Thanksgiving day. And happy Thanksgiving life.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for every gift You’ve given me. Even as I sit here today in prayer, it occurs to me, the more things I choose to thank You for, the more time I will be in Your presence. Reveal Your blessings in my life right now, so I may remain in this posture a little bit longer. Amen.