By Michael Youssef, Ph D.  11/29/20

God blesses His children in many ways—from our talents and resources to the assurance of eternal life in heaven. Yet how often do we half-heartedly acknowledge our gifts, then quickly forget the Giver?

In Luke 17, we read a story of Jesus’ interaction with ten lepers. In this passage, we have the opportunity to watch as one of the lepers fully realizes what Jesus had done for him, and we witness the exuberant thanksgiving that resulted.

To be sure, lepers were the outcasts of all outcasts. They were considered so detestable and contagious that they were prohibited from approaching people for conversation. Instead, they resorted to covering their mouths and yelling, “Unclean!” so people would be aware of their presence. Lepers were excluded from temple worship and were separated from their families and communities. Leprosy left its victims utterly alone and without remedy for their disease.

Leprosy is not unlike a condition that is afflicting us, though ours is much graver. While the lepers were separated from temple worship and the presence of God by their fleshly disease, we are eternally separated from God by our sinfulness. The commonality does not stop there. For both the lepers and us, our estrangement finds healing exclusively through the power of Jesus.

Prayer: Father, I realize that my sinfulness separates me from You eternally. But I rejoice today that You have healed me through the power of Christ. May I never forget to praise You for my healing. I pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.

“I said, ‘Have mercy on me, Lord; heal me, for I have sinned against you'” (Psalm 41:4).