You will be blessed if you take time to read Luke 17.11-19

Good Morning, Friends.

What do you think the point of this story is?_____________________________________________________________________

Jesus never minded being interrupted or stopped along His journey's way. And, how was it that He never seemed too busy for just one more? I find that incredible. No Blackberry, I-Phone or DayTimer to keep His schedule--just walking out the will of the Father--not pulled by someone else's "urgency", but staying close to the heart of the Father.

We can envision today's events, as Jesus and His traveling companions are approached by a band of ten men--not just any 10 men--they had leprosy, which packed a double whammy for its victims. The term 'leprosy' in the Bible covers a range of skin diseases, some which caused severe flesh-eating maladies, including the gnawing away of fingers, toes, noses or ears; no matter the severity, lepers were ceremonially unclean. As such, they were cut off from their families, townspeople, and any involvement in the synagogue. Imagine the scene as the motley crew approached Jesus and His traveling band as they get ever closer to Jerusalem. Showing respect by maintaining some distance, they called aloud, "Jesus, have pity on us!" When He saw them, He said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." Why the priests? Because the priests were able to declare them ceremonially clean, which they did, as the lepers turned in faith to follow Jesus' instruction, they were cleansed of their leprosy! Only one of the 10 turned around, ran back to Jesus--threw himself at Jesus' feet--and thanked Him. Being that this fellow was a Samaritan (who regarded the Jews with mutual disdain), it was particularly noteworthy that he was the one who returned. And then-- Jesus NOTICED. . . (we have noticed before that when Jesus noticed something, there would be something for us to learn or emulate). . . He noticed that the other nine had not returned. Only one came back to say "thank you."

When you picture this, how does it make you feel?___________ Well, how do you think Jesus felt? Can't you imagine Him, looking down the road, to see if any others had turned around to come back? Or don't you think Jesus had feelings? Then, do you think God has feelings? In small part, I can imagine how Jesus felt. I have at times been the 'pray-er with faith' for an individual who needed a divine touch; then, when they got that 'touch' that could have only been divine, the incident is reduced to a coincidence, or maybe even a misunderstanding from the outset. It is then I want to have an audience with Jesus, and say, 'I'm so sorry, Lord. I'm sorry that your miraculous touch was disregarded.' I think of how I have a physiological pang--and it isn't even me! It is God who has been overlooked. For many, there's no time for God when things are going well; but in the moment of need, people hit their knees.

Ten actions received; ten attitudes chosen. So, why did the one leper return? Maybe it was his attitude, even before he was healed. I have been reading a marvelous recent writing called Lord, Change My Attitude, in which the author discusses the fact that it is our thinking forms our attitudes. And our attitudes are decisions we make about how we are going to think. It does not take a Rhodes scholar to realize that when we choose to be thankful, it changes us--it definitely changes our attitude. I prefer the term 'being thankful' to 'feeling gratitude' because the word gratitude has been over-used while gratefulness under-ascribed to God in our Oprah-ized culture. [Jesus had a thankful attitude--I went through the Gospels and discovered that Jesus never sat down to eat until He had thanked His Father for the food. Compelling.]

One of the things I've noticed about myself--when I focus my thoughts toward thanking God for His good gifts, I am not as likely to complain or be critical. (neither complaining or being critical ever have to be verbalized--just having the thoughts is enough to cause a crummy attitude!) Do you realize that when we complain or murmur, like the Israelites did after being brought out of Egypt, God hears our complaining and it is not pleasing to Him. (Did you think He didn't hear you?) On the other hand, when I am thanking God, I am more likely to be contented, and rest in the 'enough'. Besides, God commands that we be thankful. . . that we give thanks always. 1 Thessalonians 5.18; Ephesians 5.20. . .

Let's purpose to be thankful, allowing gratitude to shape our attitude.

Thankfulness is a decision. . . it is a choice that you make--will you?

So that you may know,

Christine

The book? Lord, Change My Attitude, James MacDonald, Moody Publishing. It is excellent.