November 19

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And Jesus answering said, ‘Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.’ And he said unto him, ‘Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.’ Luke 17:17-19, KJV

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🔊 Ten lepers were healed, but only one returned to thank Jesus. The other nine treated Jesus like a miracle worker – a divine ‘doctor’ whom you visit when you have a problem, but whose name you can’t remember. The one who returned had no intention of receiving a deeper blessing – he wanted to give thanks to Jesus. He fell down at Jesus’ feet and glorified God, and there he received another word from Jesus, which made him ‘whole’. The true need of our hearts is not always what we think it is. Sometimes our true need can only really be met when our other needs have been met. When we are healthy, well-fed and secure, sometimes only then does the question come: what is the purpose of this life? It is not merely to go to Church and read our Bibles in our spare time. Our purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him for ever. Our purpose is to surrender our lives to Jesus and allow Him to rule over us. Only then do we know a real ‘wholeness’ – in the soaring worship we were created for. An eagle is not ‘whole’ because it has no sickness; it is ‘whole’ when it comes into its own, soaring on winds high above the mountains. So, too, we are not whole just because our sins are forgiven, or because we have a nice job and a happy family. We are whole because we are living this life of giving ourselves to Jesus in thanksgiving and worship. There we receive the ‘second touch’, and we are His for evermore.