Learning From The Leper

Scripture Text: Luke 17:11-19

Have you ever had someone do something so great for you, that you felt so thankful, you wanted to do something sepcial for that person? Or find a way repay him/her somehow?

Or, did you just go on your merry way, without even thanking the person?

This is what I learned during a small devotional we had together as a family.
I learned that we are very much like lepers.

Unclean.
Isolated.
Despised.
Unloved.

If you look at Numbers 5:2-4; the Lord gave Moses intructions on what to do with these people.They had to separate them from their homes, thier loved ones. Deprive them of being with them, and isolate them someplace far (like in the dessert). They had to tear their clothes as a symbol of deep sorrow, and they had to cover their faces. (Because in the old times, the face was considered the most intimate part of the body, so if you cover your face this shows no intimacy to any person.) And if anyone tries to get near them they would have to shout "UNCLEAN! UNCLEAN!"
Why go this far for a sick person? Because leprosy can be contaigous..
and leprosy.. just like sin..
slowly but surely, kills a person.

We all remember the bible story of the 10 lepers that Jesus healed right?
what was their call?
"Master [Jesus] have pity on us..."

(its now time for Deb's Dictionary/Thesaurus! XD)
Main Entry: pity
Part of Speech: noun 1
Definition: mercy

Mercy- Not receiving something you deserve.

The Lepers knew they deserved to die, because they were unclean, but here they were calling out to their Lord, to show them mercy, and not allow them to die.

Seeing them, Jesus told them to go and show themselves to the priest, and as they went on their way, they were healed. (v.14)
Now why did Jesus tell them to go to the priest?
Not that it means anything in the present time, but in the old days you had to go to the priest and have yourself checked if you were healed, so he may give you the bill of health. So in short, the priest was sort of an accuser. He judges the person and if he sees any impurities in you he points it out and sends you away.
In our christian lives, Satan or the Devil are our accusers. That *zhomgoodnessgoshdarnitdagnabbit (word censored thanks to jimsilog: SB daw ako hahah!)* demon is going to find some sort of "leprosy" in us and accuse us of being filthy and undeserving to rejoin our loved ones, but Jesus is going to clean that up and He will claim us righteous.

On their way to the priest, they were healed.. and only ONE leper realized this.

That one leper was sensitive to the power of Christ, and so he went back.. because he knew that his Lord deserved to be thanked.
Even if he was instructed by God to go see the priest, he delayed and followed his higher calling- he took the time to give God what was due to Him.

as I have learned :
** A lack of thankfulness is a lack of thoughtfulness.

Sometimes we like to think that we are sufficient, but the truth is.. we are born helpless into this world.
We sometimes think that doing good works or serving in the ministry is enough, but a lot of times we forget why we're doing it.
But we have to remember that if we don't give God our "thanks" or the honor that is due Him, all of our "Christian routines", even if they are for a good cause; are all gonna become another gimick.


My dad told me once, "DELAYED OBEDIENCE IS DISOBEDIENCE"
so, did that mean that since this leper delayed, he was disobeying God? When he came back to Jesus, was He told off "Why are you here?! I told you to go to the priest! You disobeyed Me!"

NO.
yes, this leper (who was actually a foreigner. NOTE: Samaritan) did not obey instantly, but he had a higher calling- to give thanks to Jesus, and the Lord did not stop him from doing that.

"17 Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19 Then he said to him, 'Rise and go; your faith has made you well.'"

"YOUR FAITH HAS MADE YOU WELL."

Note: Jesus was the one who assured him that he was clean! He did not have to go back to the priest, he did not have to wash himself by some healing pool. All he did was fall down on his knees in perfect submission and glorified Jesus. And he was well.
So through this guy's thanksgiving, Jesus perfected his Faith.

I promised God, that if He would make things better, He would get all the glory.
And here I am God, giving You what You deserve.
I know for sure this was all your doing, and for that I am eternally grateful.ü

How about you guys? Have you learned from the leper? Or will you follow the example of the other 9 who just went on their way?
Its never too late to turn back and thank Him.ü