ODJ: Thank You

June 7, 2018 

READ: Luke 17:11-21 

One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” (v.15).

When my grandmother was in her twenties, she became very ill. Nothing she or the doctors tried healed her. She believed there was a God but didn’t have a personal relationship with Jesus. One day a co-worker told her to visit a house church nearby and ask the people to pray for her. In her desperation, my grandmother decided to go. And after the prayer time, she was healed! This miracle changed her life. Since then, she’s been thanking Jesus daily for healing her body and her soul.

My grandmother’s experience reminds me of the ten men with leprosy Jesus passed by on His way to Jerusalem. They were surely desperate (Luke 17:12). A person who had leprosy in that day was considered unclean, both physically and spiritually, and was supposed to live secluded—outside the city (Leviticus 13:45-46). When the ten men saw Jesus from afar, they recognised His spiritual authority and begged Him to show them mercy.

When Jesus heard their plea, He told them to go and show themselves to the priests, following the Levitical law (v.14; Leviticus 14:2-6). They obeyed, and on the way they were healed! Only one returned to show his gratitude towards Jesus, however. He didn’t take God’s mercy for granted and found time to thank Jesus to show his appreciation (Luke 17:15-16).

The leper who showed gratitude experienced the restorative work of God’s kingdom through Jesus. He was commended for his faith and received God’s grace, a further healing of his soul (v.19).

Even when we don’t get physical healing or the answers we desire, may we also welcome Jesus to reign in our hearts and always find reasons to thank Him for what He’s done and is doing. He’s always worthy of our gratitude.

—Estera Pirosca Escobar

365-day plan: Luke 1:26-56

MORE
Read Colossians 3:12-17 and note the practical ways you can show thankfulness. 
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What are you thankful to God for today? Why is it important to have a grateful heart even when things don’t turn out as you hoped they would?