Lessons from Lepers

“And…as they went, they were cleansed.” Luke 17:14 NKJV

“Ten…lepers…lifted up their voices and said, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’…He said to them, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and…glorified God…So Jesus answered and said, ‘Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the [other] nine?’…And He said to him…‘Your faith has made you well’” (vv. 12-15, 17, 19 NKJV).

This story teaches us these three things:

(1) Sometimes the answer comes quickly; other times it comes slowly, step-by-step. The Bible says, “As they went, they were cleansed.” You don’t know which step will bring the answer, so you must keep walking in faith. Mosaic law dictated that before a leper could be welcomed back into society, the priest must pronounce him “clean.” Think about it: Jesus saw the change in these men before it ever took place; that’s because He has the power to make it happen!

(2) Don’t give up because others reject you. As social outcasts, these men expected Jesus to treat them accordingly. But when you draw close to God, He will draw close to you (James 4:8). Are you struggling with an issue that has caused others to shun you or cast you aside? Jesus won’t do that. He said, “Whoever comes to me I will never drive away” (John 6:37).

(3) Always remember to thank and praise God. Only one of the ten lepers passed the gratitude test. Would you have passed it? When you realize how much your thanks means to the Lord, you will never let a day go by without praising and worshiping Him. Having an attitude of gratitude and expressing it to God is important.