Text: Luke 17:11-19 - The story of the 10 Lepers.
Ten lepers stood afar off and called upon Jesus, asking for mercy. Note that Jesus makes Himself available... to those who seek Him, to those who need Him, and to those who look for His coming.
Jeremiah 29:11-13 tells us His thoughts are toward those who seek Him.
John 10:10 says He brings life, and life more abundantly.
Psalm 139:7-12 declares that He manifests Himself! There is no place we can go to hide from Him.
Leprosy had separated these men from their former lives; family, friends, home, all that was familiar.
In their need (afar off) they saw Jesus. They recognized Him for who He was and what He could do.
They chose to reach out to Him. And in their obedience, they were cleansed "as they went."
When you're in darkness, you cannot see Him for who He is. Saul was like that until he traveled the Damascus road. Mercy is not only for the innocent, it's also for the guilty. If we, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to our children - how much more will your Heavenly Father give good gifts to His children? Psalm 51 speaks of the need for a repentant approach to God.
- Ask - and you shall receive,
- Seek - and you shall find,
- Knock - and it shall be opened unto you.
Yet, sadly, only the Samaritan remembered to be thankful - and he was a double outcast. Not only was he a leper, he was NOT of the household of faith. BUT - his thankful heart gained access to further blessings. The nine were cleansed/healed (outside), but the Samaritan was made whole (completed/inside and out).
If we're not thankful, we can lose out for all eternity! See Romans 1:21-22.
A thankful heart can lead us all the way to heaven!
See Psalm 34:1; 50:14; 103:1-4; 107:1-2; 116:12-13; 118:1.
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