"Giving Glory To The One"

Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" So when He saw them, He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." and so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. Now one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" and He said to him, "Arise, go your way, Your faith has made you well."  Luke 17:11-19

This is an extremely well know account in the life of Jesus with an extremely well known message. If you've been a believer for very long you've heard it more than once. Why? Because it is a simple message that can't be missed - Don't forget to thank Him! Give Him the glory!

Ten men crying out their hearts desire, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" And of course, Jesus, being who He is, sees them, hears their cry, and answers it with all the love and compassion He has for all of us! He meets their need with the desired mercy and of course the healing they so desperately needed. 

Ten men leave having been shown the mercy they had cried out for, but and remember, this 'but' is pretty important to the truth of this message. But, only one, 'returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving thanks.'

The truth is, that chances are pretty good, that we have all had moments in our lives when we have fallen into both categories! There have been those moments when we've been the one who returns to glorify and praise Him for His love, His mercy, and His touch on our lives! Chances are just as good that we have also had those moments when we have been like the nine who had more of a 'take the money and run' type of response. 

Today's question? Which moment are you in right now ...in this moment? The nine who left taking His amazing gift for granted or the one who gave praise and glorified the One who had proved Himself worthy!

I must admit that the real truth that hit me today is this. It seems to me, judging by His final statement  ...that Jesus considered this man's act of faith to be the steps he took to return to give glory to God! From what He said, Jesus considered his act of faith to be tied up with His act of worship!

So, once again the question of the day? Where will your faith find you? On the road - or - at His feet giving God all the glory?