One of Them

Lk. 17:15, 16  And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks.  And he was a Samaritan.

Ten lepers all knew who Jesus was.  As He approached, they knew that He was able to heal them.  In faith and obedience, they did as Jesus instructed and went to show themselves to the priest, receiving their blessing of healing along the way.

However, only one of them, and a Samaritan at that, came back to say thanks and to loudly, publicly praise and glorify God.  Jesus asked why the other nine, who also received the same blessing, did not return.  Understand that He didn't need their thanks any more than those of the lone, returning Samaritan.  But, giving thanks was for their benefit not His.

Giving thanks is for our benefit, too.  For by giving thanks, we acknowledge our dependence on God.  We look beyond the blessing to the Source  of it.  How easy it is to take our blessings for granted or to entertain that they were somehow of our own making or that we earned them.  The apostle Paul (1 Thess. 5:18) reminds us it is the will of God that in everything we give thanks.

Unashamedly and with a loud voice for all to hear, one of them gave thanks and glorified God.  I want to be one of them.


Sock Monkey Snippet:  Giving thanks is for our benefit.