Yahshua, on His way to Jerusalem, had reached a village on the outskirts of Galilee. From a distance, a group of men were trying to catch His attention. “Yahshua, have pity on us,” they shouted. They were lepers. His heart was touched. “Go, show yourselves to the priests,” He answered kindly. This was standard practice required of Jewish people after recovery from an infectious disease [see Leviticus 14:2-32]. He didn’t pray for them or touch them; was He pushing them away? They were used to rejection, so did they turn away in despair, or hope? We don’t know, but as they went they realised the leprosy had gone. Then what happened? How did they react? We know only that one man, in his joy and excitement, began to shout praises to Yahweh and, rushing back, threw himself at Yahshua’s feet with grateful thanks. Yahshua looked at him. “Were not all ten cleansed?” He asked. “Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to [Yahweh]?”
In his book, ‘Journey to the Centre of Your Heart’, Ray Bevan reflects that whilst the ‘other nine’ must surely have appreciated what Yahshua had done for them, they didn’t go back. “You can appreciate [Yahshua] from a distance,” he writes, “but thankfulness keeps you coming back, staying close.” Thankfulness is a way of staying connected! It also prompted what seems to have been an ‘extra’ blessing. Yahshua was moved. “Get up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you,” He said [Luke 17:11-19]. What did He mean? I’ve often wondered.
Translations differ from, ‘Thy faith hath made thee whole’, to ‘Your faith has saved you’. It was certainly different from being ‘cleansed’ [verse 14]. Ten were cleansed, only one was ‘made whole’. I’ve seen many people helped, healed, delivered over the years, and I’ve grieved as they have slipped away into indifference, or a lifestyle that excludes Yahshua. “Spiritual erosion begins when there is an absence of gratitude,” writes Bevan. “Thankfulness is the key to wholeness.”
As we move into 2023, let’s cultivate a thankful heart, rejoicing in Yahweh’s protection and provision, His mercy and love, His many kindnesses and His answers to our prayers.
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1 timothy 3:16 NIV - Beyond all question, the mystery from - Bible Gateway
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