It’s hard to say what a proper response to God is, meaning, it’s difficult to define because it has to be authentic. For sure, I think it’s safe to say those who approach God must have faith. “For without faith, it is impossible to please Him…” (Hebrews 11:6). This is definitely a necessary ingredient no matter what posture we take in response to the goodness of God.
My thoughts on this originated at church this week. As we lifted our voices in praise and worship, there wasn’t a cookie-cutter response– nor should there have been. But as I personally kneeled in gratitude, I heard the Holy Spirit ask, “Where are the nine?”
I knew the reference. The account is found in Luke 17:11-19.
Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. 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. So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”
Ten men with a debilitating disease were miraculously healed. But only one out of the group turned back and gave a heartfelt thank you to Jesus for what He had done in his life. Jesus noticed the lack of response from the others and asked, “Where are the nine?”
And that’s the question I’m asking today. I can’t help but wonder what’s happened to gratitude. Is it lacking? or is it just hidden? It’s not my place to judge another person’s heart, but I think it’s worth noting that gratitude should be visible– in some form.
Obviously, Jesus could tell who was grateful and who took the miracle without thinking. The one who returned couldn’t help but say thank you. “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34).
If it’s in your heart, it’s going to reveal itself.
I have been saved for over 30 years. God has been so gracious to me. But no matter how many years pass, I don’t ever want to forget how He lifted me up out of horrible pit and set my feet on solid ground– so I choose not to. Gratitude is a choice.
I want to encourage you to evaluate your thankfulness. To know God (really know Him) is to love Him. He didn’t have to save us. He chose to. “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again” (John 3:16-17, MSG).
Jesus definitely put my world right again. And He’s still right beside me every day. The world itself is in a sad state, but the people who know God are not. And for that, I’m grateful.
So you get to decide. Will you join the one? or the nine?
