ARE YOU THAT ONE?

By:  Rev. Angela Lee Price

Jesus healed ten lepers, but only the one, a foreigner, a Samaritan, followed up.  He returned to Jesus to say thank you. Jesus asked the whereabouts of the other nine, and then told the one, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well" (Luke 17: 11-18). Don't miss the blessing of giving thanks. Verse 15 states, "And one of them, when he saw that he was healed turned back, and with a loud voice gloried God."  

When praises go up, brothers and sisters, blessings come down! All ten lepers were cleansed, but only the one was cleansed and made well.   This Samaritan, a Gentile, Jesus pointed out was more spiritually minded than the nine leprous Jews.  All were healed, but only the one gave thanks to Jesus.  And so, his salvation was complete (v19).  Let us give thanks in this season not because everybody else is doing it, or because it is the politically correct thing to do, but because we recognize where our blessings come from.  They are not of ourselves, but from the One, the One who loved us so much He gave His only begotten Son to save us from our sins!

As believers, we should be thankful to God not just at Thanksgiving, but at all times. The Bible says, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thess. 5:18 NIV). The Bible declares, "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those he redeemed from the hand of the enemy" (Psalms 107:1-2). And Hebrews, 12:28 states, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire.'"

Be the one who rejoices always whenever God heals and sets someone free; Be the one who prays constantly for others because you understand the power of prayer. Be the one who gives generously and, in all circumstances, because God has given generously to you!   You can't beat God's giving no matter how hard you try! Are you the one? Be the one!  Jesus saves!