The Majority Isn't Always Right - February 23 Readings: Luke 17:11-37

Today’s Readings

Context

The die has been cast and now Jesus is beginning to prepare his disciples for the future. After the healing of the lepers, Jesus begins to teach both about the fact that he was going to leave them and about his second coming, broaching a new topic. The end is drawing near and the focus of Jesus' ministry is changing. 

Devotional - The Majority Isn't Always Right

In one of the better known stories of the life of Jesus, one that we tell our children often, Luke 17:11-19 records the story of Jesus healing ten lepers. Each of them returns to their lives rejoicing in the fact that they are no longer exiled and ostracized from home and family. It is my guess that each of them was immensely grateful to the one who had healed them.

But only one of them bothered to take the time to go back to Jesus and actually express that thanksgiving. The other nine were not evil, ungrateful or thoughtless jerks. They just forgot to take the time to tell the Healer how thankful they were to be healed. I'm guessing they were so excited to go home and tell their families the good news that they just forgot. But whatever the reason. They forgot. They did not return to say thank you to the Savior.

That is me, far too often.

I have a few issues going on in my life right now - some stresses, trials, confusion and struggles. That is called normal, I guess. But I also have a truckload of blessings that have come from the hand of God. If I lost everything else in this world, I would still have Jesus who saved me and gave me forgiveness, reconciliation with God and an eternal home in heaven. If there was nothing else, I could spend all day giving thanks for that. But there is so much else. My home and family. My job and my church (for me, those are actually the same thing). God answers prayer and provides for my needs. My life has been one blessing after another.

But I tend to forget that. I've been having cluster headaches recently - they are disruptive to life! The best way to describe them is that it feels like someone is stabbing me in my left eyeball. These headaches come and go randomly for a month or two (hence the term cluster) and while they are here they can dominate my life. And my attitude isn't always the best about it. I get discouraged, angry, and resentful when another starts to hit. All too often I fail to thank God for the multitudinous blessings that mark every day of my life - even those that have a cluster headache! His blessings vastly outweigh my hurts - even on my worst day.

Count your blessings, name them one by one.
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done. 

The words to that hymn are a fitting warning to me. I need to count my blessings day by day to remind myself that God's work in and through me is always more intense than whatever opposition I might face. God's grace is more powerful than life's hardships. God's goodness is more significant that people's meanness.

Father, forgive me for how often I've been among the nine, those that receive your blessings but fail to thank you for them. Thank you for every good and perfect gift which flows from you. Help me to consider your goodness and give thanks for it. 

Think and Pray

Are you actively grateful?
The question is not whether God has been good to you, but whether you have spent more time counting your blessings or complaining about your hardships.
Even as you pray about your needs, your burdens and your struggles (all legitimate), take some time today to count your blessings.