Jesus said, “Were not ten healed? Where are the nine? Can none be found to come back and give glory to God except this outsider?” –Luke 17:17-18 MSG
The phrase “Thanks for nothing” is often used to indicate someone’s displeasure with a person’s response to something done for them. Jesus could have easily uttered these words to the nine leapers who didn’t return to say thank you. Instead, He asked the question, “Where are they?” There was no cure for leprosy in that day. The lepers became outcasts, not permitted to enter the city. Jesus doesn’t pretend that He doesn’t hear them; instead, He acknowledges their plight and heals them. There is no cure for sin except Jesus. We are outcasts not permitted within the city of Heaven without Jesus. How often do we forget to thank Him for being born in a manger meant for livestock, or for carrying His Cross to His own crucifixion? The miracle of healing the lepers is only recorded by Luke, the physician, yet God wanted Luke to share this story with all of us. Even though we are not lepers, let’s not forget to thank the Giver of all that is good not only in the season of Thanksgiving but every day that He gives us.
Remember to thank God for sending us His only Son to heal our disease called sin.
All we have to do is call on Him. Be obedient to the Holy Spirit when He prompts us to come and kneel at the feet of Jesus and worship Him with thanksgiving.