While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; and they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed. Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? “Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.”
Luke 17:11-19
I was enjoying lunch at a mountain-top restaurant last Summer, and I couldn't help but overhear a family's struggle. Their elderly mother/grandmother was using a portable liquid oxygen canister, and was concerned about how much oxygen was left. After all, we were at a much higher elevation than she was likely used to. Neither she, nor anyone in her family was able to figure out how to use the capacity gauge. I had worked in the past with such apparatus, therefore I decided to offer assistance.
"Can I help you out with that?" I asked permission.
They handed me the canister, and I showed them how to hold it so as to let its own weight actuate the gauge. They realized that they had over half a tank, and plenty of time to remain at the restaurant. I wasn't looking for anything tangible in return, so I smiled and walked back to my seat realizing that not one of them had offered a "thank you" or any other form of gratitude for the assistance that had eased their minds and extended their stay on the mountain.
How much do we really praise and thank God for saving us from the leprosy that is sin and its consequences? We would be doomed without the Sacrifice of His Son Jesus for us! Because of Him, we no longer have to offer animal sacrifices as in ancient times, so let us offer new kinds of sacrifices...
For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.
Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.Hebrews 13:14-16
