How do you respond to Christ’s favor in your life?

Monday October 26, 2009
 11Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy[a]met him. They stood at a distance 13and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
 14When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
15One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
17Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” (Luke 17:11-19)

Reflection
I would imagine that most Christians and those earnestly seeking God desire God to come through. V. 13, they cried in a loud voice, have mercy on us.  They had a need, a very serious need, and they knew who to come to, and they had faith Jesus could heal them.  Jesus healed them, all of them, completely.  Complete healing offered to any who would trust in Him.  Although this moment shows Christ’s power over sickness, it also demonstrates the right response, and the wrong response to God’s goodness in our lives. Just one returned, v. 15. His response is amazing. In that same loud voice he cried out for mercy, and out of agony, it was that same energy he praised God, v. 15. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him, v. 16. He we see a man totally thankful and filled with gratitude for what Christ had done for him. We see both Christ’s shock but also his gladness in the following two verses.  Where were the other nine.

God blesses us with so much throughout this day, do we take time to thank Him, truly thank Him.

Lord Jesus, so many of us do struggle with thankfulness. We live in a culture of excess. We feel self-entitled. American Western Christianity promotes the self, as we also invent ideas of a personal savior and personal relationship.  Lord Jesus, heal us of any ingratitude that we might have towards You.  Would we most importantly realize the price You paid for us to redeem us and rescue us.  Would we like the one man who came back, unashamedly praise You, and come before you with thankfulness for all that You do.