#53 THE TENTH LEPER

Jane Phinney: He was unashamed. He was grateful. Verses 15 &16 say that he loudly glorified God, fell on his face at Jesus’ feet & gave Him thanks. I want to be like the 10th leper.

THE TENTH LEPER

Tucked away in the gospel of Luke, chapter 17, is a short account of Jesus healing 10 men with leprosy. Although there are other noted individuals in the Bible, afflicted with this disease, this is the only mention of this group of men interacting with Him. The book of Leviticus documents the detailed testing for leprosy (chapter 13), & also the traditional cleansing process by the priests (chapter 14). But what really captured my attention was the heart attitude of the 10^th leper. While unexpectedly interacting with Jesus, he was attentive & alert to what was happening around him, in him, & to him. He was soul-connected. And his immediate response was to stop & acknowledge the Source.

Jesus encountered this ostracized group while he was traveling between Galilee & Samaria. The record states that the thankful man was a Samaritan, a foreigner…a different race. Perhaps the implication is that part, or all, of the 9 remaining were Jesus’ own people, making the 10^th leper’s gratitude, as opposed to their lack, even more amazing. Jesus followed Hebrew tradition & told all 10 men to show themselves to the priests & they obeyed. In the process of going, they were cleansed. But apparently only the 10th leper sensed the miracle that had transpired & he turned back. He was unashamed. He was grateful. Verses 15 &16 say that he loudly glorified God, fell on his face at Jesus’ feet & gave Him thanks. I want to be like the 10^th leper.

To be completely honest, I will admit that thankfulness is not my initial response in most of the situations I encounter in life. When surprised speechless by something positive, my jaw drops & I say one of two things. “Are you for real?” Or “You’ve GOT to be kidding me!!” Occasionally, I cry. I end up thanking the Lord in the end…a bit later, when I’ve had time to process. In traumatic or unexpected changes & pain, I just feel numb. My stomach knots up & my heart pounds. I often cry out, “Oh God! No!” My mind swirls & I can have trouble breathing. I usually end up sitting with my head in my hands. But uttering thanks to God…for still being sovereign over my sudden pain or loss…is normally not my first thought.

Jesus poignantly responds to the glaring lack of gratitude. His words reveal His shock & dismay when He asks, “Where are they? Was no one found who turned back to give glory to God, except the foreigner?” Then He turns to the 10^th leper &, in essence, says, “Get up, get going. Your faith has made you well (saved you.)” Wouldn’t you love to hear Jesus say that to you??

Through the seasons of my life, I’m seeing clearly that being grateful isn’t a means to an end, to try to get something more from God. Neither is it an “order” to be carried out, that nets you a reward. God isn’t a slot machine. No, gratitude is way beyond superficial. Think about it. Thankfulness is borne from need, of some sort, be it external or internal — and then expressed in the physical, spiritual or financial areas of life. Is not all of life ultimately spiritually transforming? “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (I Thessalonians 5:16-18) Everything means just that! I know that gratitude blooms when you’re alert to God working in all that concerns you. Both the sudden changes & the ordinary. Hardships & blessings. Suffering & contentment. I’m pretty sure I’ll be on this learning track until heaven!

For the past few years, I’ve kept gratitude journals. It only takes a few minutes every morning. My favorite method is writing the date & then using bullet points to record anything that struck me as something God used to remind me of Himself & His care over my life. Some days I have repeats. No matter. I record the blessing of encouraging words, a scripture lesson, a verse, an answered prayer, monetary gifts, a meal, an act of service, prayers prayed over me, something funny said by a child, things I noticed in nature, things I appreciate in daily living & then of course…people who’ve ministered to me in the incidentals. To get started, picture your life without what makes it flow…physically & spiritually. Then record those things. You’ll be amazed when you come back later & reread your entries! A written record of God’s activity can be a huge encouragement! Sometimes, recalling them has even made me laugh out loud. 😊

Don’t think me morbid, but occasionally I read obituaries from my hometown, in Iowa, to see if anyone I used to know has passed on. This reminds me to be grateful. Such was the case a few years back when I accidentally discovered a “testimony” of life, from the past, that deeply affected me in the present. My college roommate’s mom was 95 & lived independently, in Iowa, most of her life. And though I hadn’t seen her for a long time, some favorite memories popped into my head. She lived to serve others while embracing pain, & loss, along the way…having lost a grandchild, her husband, a son, & a son-in-law. She lived grateful & she lived giving. I fondly recalled that, years ago, she made the dresses for our wedding. She loved cooking for people & had a special knack for making food taste extra good! Her kitchen table was a place of fellowship. One Sunday afternoon, shortly after we were married, Steve & I spontaneously rode bike, 20 miles round trip, to visit this couple on their farm. Reading about her life inspired me anew. It affirmed what I know to be true…that little things speak volumes & add up to change lives. So, I thanked God for the blessing of having known her. Eleanor’s life reminded me, again, that gratitude isn’t just a feeling. Most often, it’s a choice.

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