Timely Insights into God's Word from Khandielese Reyes

Give Thanks

“And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.  And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off.  And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.  And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests.  And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.  And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.  And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed?  But where are the nine?”  (Luke 17:11-17)

Ten men sought help from the Lord Jesus and received.  Ten men whose bodies were consumed with sickness and disease sought deliverance and restoration from The Lord and he healed them.  Ten men went away fully and completely restored of health and yet ONLY ONE returned to The Lord to “Give Thanks” and Glory to God! 

According to scripture, as the Lord was passing through Samaria and Galilee, he entered into a certain village where there resided ten men who were lepers.  Because of the law, they had to remain afar off and could not physically approach him nor the villagers, but had to remain outside of the village.  Yet, it is apparent they heard of the mighty healing power of our Lord Jesus, for when they knew he’d entered into the village although they could not approach him, they could cry out to him for mercy and this they did.  The scripture tells us that “they lifted up their voices”,  indicating they shouted from the place where they stood as they saw him entering in.  No doubt, there was quite possibly a crowd that came out to meet him for every place he entered, a crowd emerged thus, the voices of the ten lepers had to be loud enough to go beyond the crowd to his ears.  Crying out above all the noise of the village they shouted: “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”  They had to get his attention and the only way they could accomplish this being in the position they were in, was to cry out with a LOUD voice.  Now, notice how the Lord responded to their cries.  Upon hearing them, he did not race over to their side, lay hands upon them, anoint them with oil and command healing into their sick bodies.  Instead, he simply responded by saying to them: “Go shew yourselves unto the priests.”  He replied to them in this manner as it was customary according to the law, that a leper who had been cleansed was declared whole by the examination (so to speak), of the priest.  But, while they stood there covered in leprous skin, the Lord commanded of them to go and show themselves to the priest.  They were not made whole FIRST then told to go, but told to GO and being obedient to His word, THEN was made whole.  The bible tells us that AS THEY WENT, they were cleansed.  They could have stood there dumbfounded at his instructions wondering why on earth were they going to the priests seeing as they were still (in the natural) covered in leprous sores.  However, they TRUSTED HIM at His word knowing that if they were told to go show themselves to the priests, it must mean they are cured even though physical healing had not yet manifested.  So, quickly they proceeded to where the priest were, but ONE MAN upon seeing his skin restored back to normal, was so overwhelmed with joy and thanksgiving, that he could not proceed forward until he FIRST went back to “Give Thanks.” 

Over the years I’ve often wondered why all ten did not return to the Lord in gratitude.  They all came out seeking the same thing and received that which was asked of the Lord, and surely they all must have been thankful for the Lord’s mercy in healing them.  After all, what man would take it so lightly of being restored to health from such a horrific disease.  And yet, the only one who made a public display of thanks and glorification, was whom the scriptures declared as being “a Samaritan.”   To make mention of this obviously indicates it’s importance for the scriptures could have declared the one who was so thankful to the Lord as simply “a man”, but instead takes notice of the fact the man was “a Samaritan.”   To understand why this was so important, is to first understand the life of a “Samaritan”.  Samaritan’s were a despised people because of their paganism and the worshiping of graven images.  These were people brought into the city of Samaria by the king of Assyria from various different parts of the lands such as Babylon, Cuthah, Ava, Hamath and so on and with them they brought their wicked religious practices into the lives of the children of Israel who also dwelt in the land, causing them to stumble as they soon followed after their pagan ways and began also serving other God’s and turning from the one TRUE God.  (see 2^nd Kings chapter 17)  They knew not the ways of the LORD God and even after being taught how they should fear the Lord, they still although professing “fear” of the LORD God, continued to make and worship gods of their own.  Their rituals were corruptible. 

So now, here we have in the book of Luke chapter 17, a despised Samaritan who was the ONLY one who returned in gratitude, giving thanks and worship to the God he’d not known, and the God the other nine had possibly known all their lives.  Isn’t it amazing how the ones who have been declared sinful and far from knowing God by the highminded religious folk, are the very ones who are first to recognize his saving grace and power and TRULY are thankful.  It is no wonder the Lord in speaking to the “chief priests and elders” declared in the book of Matthew: “Verily I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.” (Matt 21:31)  The religious leaders, intellectuals, godly folk of high spiritual standards all claim “knowledge” of God and yet are the least thankful and the least to recognize His Mercy and Grace.  Becoming complacent with their present lifestyles, and relationship with God, they are no longer moved by his miracles and power, but rather it is to them as an “every day expected occurrence”.  Some even believe they are deserving of his gifts simply because of their “head knowledge” so when they receive anything of Him, because of pride and arrogance, they are unable to give thanks. The one who has suffered much, when delivered from his sufferings, is MORE thankful to The Lord than he who’ve suffered little.   The one who had been bound by sin, is MORE thankful for The Lord’s forgiveness, than he who believe his sins were not so great as it was in the book of Luke chapter 18.  The Lord told the parable of the Pharisee and tax collector who both went up to the temple to pray.  The Pharisee prayed a very self-righteous, arrogant prayer in which he believed himself to be righteous and good in the eyes of the Lord.  The Tax collector hung his head low and confessed: “God, be merciful unto me a sinner…”  The scriptures tell us this man went home MORE justified than the other. The man who has little, is very thankful to The Lord for even the “smallest” of blessing, while one who has much find it difficult to bless another by giving even the smallest of blessing away.   He who has received much mercy from the Lord is himself able to be merciful to another as it is written concerning the parable of the Good Samaritan.   It was a “despised” Samaritan who was merciful and compassionate towards the man who was beaten and robbed, while the great religious folk turned their heads and walked on the other side. 

The one who is MOST thankful to The Lord, is usually the one who feels less deserving of His mercy.   Arrogance and pride lead many to believe they are somehow worthy of His blessings, worthy of His gifts, and are like the nine lepers who with ungrateful and unthankful hearts, refuse to acknowledge the act of kindness from The Lord and return back to Him to simply…. “Give Thanks”   But, ALL who profess to have received his blessed gift of salvation and eternal life, TRULY should be as the “Samaritan” was in that DAILY we should come to Him and “Give Thanks.”  For if it not been for his AWESOME and most LOVING sacrifice to man, man’s eternity would be sealed in hell forever separated from The Father’s Love! 

The Samaritan ran back with joy and gratitude GLORIFYING God and giving thanks to The Lord for an “outward” cleansing.  We (who are believers) have EVERY reason to come daily with joy and gratitude, GLORIFYING God and giving thanks all the MORE.  Fore we have received, through the shed blood of Jesus Christ our Lord, an “Inward” cleansing.  MORE than enough reason to daily stop and “Give Thanks”

I Love you all so very much.  Have a blessed week in the Lord and remember:  Whatever we do, do ALL for the GLORY of GOD, who ALONE is worthy of the GLORY and the PRAISE!

The Lord be with you this day and always!  Shalom Uvracha (Peace and Blessings)

Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh,
Adonai Elohim Tzeva-ot
Asher Hayah Va-ho-veh VaY’vo

Holy, Holy, Holy
Lord God Almighty
Who was and is and is to come!

May the peace of the Lord be with you today and always……

Khandielese
Daughter & Servant
   of the Lord God