112719 –
It costs “literally NOTHING” to say, “Thank You!” I am talking about showing GRATEFULNESS, THANKFULNESS and APPRECIATION.
It really truly IS NOT DIFFICULT to simply ACKNOWLEDGE another human being…to RECOGNIZE another and to offer a word of KINDNESS.
It is FREE, it costs YOU nothing.
This happens to be a narrative that you have heard “MANY TIMES before…”
It is actually “very well known.”
Saying, “THANK YOU” is SO simple, so uncomplicated, so VERY easy to do!
The Gospel writer Luke tells us that Jesus is STILL traveling toward Jerusalem via Galilee and Samaria.
AS he enters “A CERTAIN VILLAGE,” ten men INFECTED with leprosy catch Jesus’ attention.
It was an “infectious disease” that damaged the skin and the nervous system. The infection itself could lead to damage of the nerves, respiratory tract, skin, and even to the eyes.
It was a VERY “VISIBLE” disease!
These men CRY OUT to Jesus, “Jesus, Master, have mercy ON US” – even as they were REQUIRED to do. They had to be DOWNWIND and STAY at a distance.
As soon as he SEES THEM, Jesus orders them to SHOW themselves to the priests. Along the way, they ARE cleansed of their leprosy. Whoa! Dude! Look at you!
Realizing he’s been HEALED, one of them RETURNS, SHOUTING at the top of his lungs and giving MAJOR PROPS to God. He FALLS on his face at Jesus’ feet thanking him PROFUSELY.
Hold it!
Stop!
There is a MAJOR line coming…
Wait for it!
THIS GUY’S a Samaritan. Show stopper right there!
That’s the main thing. Where he’s from, who his people are. He’s not one of us.
You remember the Samaritans. Of course you do! There was no love lost between them and the Jews.
Both sides, hated and despised each other, in spite of the fact they were actually distantly related!
“Samaritan Dogs” is how they were usually referred to…
So, Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they?”
Jesus is taken aback BY THE FACT that “ONLY ONE” of them RETURNED to give God DUE props.
BUT he probably understood, the “other nine” were men on a MISSION. They were off to the TEMPLE. They were in desperate NEED of finding a temple priest. They were off to be physically EXAMINED.
They KNEW that family and friends would soon be able to reunite with them again.
They would soon be with their families again. They could see their parents. Their children…their friends…
They were overjoyed and delirious…with happiness.
They longed to hear those words that said, they were declared “CLEAN!”
Jesus understood all that. He got all that…
BUT the real kicker WAS – the one who did return was a SAMARITAN. A non-believer…a heathen, a pagan, by Jewish standards.
Were those other nine grateful? Were they thanking God? Were they acknowledging “the grace and the gift” bestowed upon them?
Or, in their exuberance and excitement did they forget about God?
So, Jesus tells the Samaritan to “stand up” and to go on his way. HIS FAITH has saved him.
This was a big thing – healing a Samaritan, this fact alone was going to make some people very unhappy, unnerved and perturbed.
And it was a major statement to make to someone considered an “unbelieving nation, a group of foreign heathens!”
Jesus clearly said, it was his faith that saved him.
Faith is not always found WHERE we expect it to be FOUND.
FAITH can be found in many places…even among UNBELIEVERS or ENEMIES.
ANYONE can be thankful and show gratitude, you don’t even need to be religious…or spiritual to do so.
So it is easy.
It is simple.
It costs us nothing.
It definitely doesn’t hurt.
Saying thank you does not diminish “other thanks” that you might offer.
There should be MORE THAN ENOUGH thanks to go around.
Use it liberally. Use it frequently. Mean it. Be grateful. Be thankful.
You are more blessed than you realize.
And the appropriate response to your countless blessings is to be thankful and grateful.
Thank YOU for being here tonight!
Amen.