Today’s Devotion
Topic : Where Are The Nine?
Text : Luke 17: 17
17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Amen.
Normally the way we petition God is very different from how we appreciate Him once our request is granted. On the one hand, it seems we will “die” if what we desire from Him is denied us. On the other hand, we suddenly feel we must have contributed to the miracle that has fulfilled our desires. So though we thank Him, it’s half-baked.
Are we all not guilty of this truth? How we often pray, fast, give, roll on the floor, scream, sow seed and all the other things that we can possibly do to have God’s response to our plea.
The “deeply spiritual” among us always quote 1 John 5:14 and say: ” this is the confidence we have in approaching God : that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us “; and by that, demand a “by force” answer from Him through faith. And it is good. Yet , we really don’t offer an appreciation that measures that same extent once we are answered. And that is sad.
You see one day, “on His way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As He was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met Him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
When He saw them, He said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him — and he was a Samaritan.
Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well. “(Luke 17 : 11 – 19 ).
What the lepers failed to realise was that, although Jesus asked them to show themselves to the priest, He went ahead of them and became the healing they received on the way. And guess what, He knew how many He had healed; He knew He healed them all . That is why He asked the grateful one, “Were not ALL ten cleansed? Where are the nine?”.
Beloved you have a decision to make. Will you be a grateful child of God or you will be like the nine? He knows which of your prayers He already answered. As you keep asking Him to do more for you, may be He is also waiting to hear you appreciate the thousand and one other blessings you failed to thank Him for.
Meditate on the above and begin to pray. Ask for a grateful heart that will always come back to God after an answered prayer, praising God in a loud voice. Throwing yourself at the feet of Jesus, thanking Him for everything great and small. As for the “nine”, remind them that it is never too late to be grateful.. Jesus is still waiting. See you at church.
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