How Do You Spell Relief?

“ Now it happened as He [Jesus] 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. And 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 Him 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

There was a commercial years ago – “How do you spell relief? R-O-L-A-I-D-S Rolaids tastes like a mint and works like a miracle!” Until a cure was found in the 1900’s, leprosy was a fatal disease. These ten me were in a hopeless situation when they turned to Jesus. Someone who was “labeled” as unclean had to be declared clean by the priests. The ten men went to the priests and were declared to be clean – free of leprosy. A miracle. And yet, only one sought Jesus out to thank Him and acknowledge God. And that one was a Samaritan – rejected by the Jews.  The ones who should have been grateful were not. I imagine with the trouble behind them, they wanted to get back to their lives before they were stricken by leprosy.

That parable is there for a reason – for our benefit. Not just to shake our heads at the ingratitude shown – but to give us insight into the heart of man – our own hearts. These 10 men were saved from a certain and painful death.  How much more were you and I saved from certain death. Saved to eternal life. Healed spiritually. Made clean. When Jesus was talking to Nicodemus (John 3) and Jesus said, “You must be born again”, He was saying that Nicodemus must be healed – made clean.  I heard a song during the church service this past Sunday.

“When I Think about the Lord, How He saved me, how He raised me, How He filled me, with the Holy Ghost. How He healed me, to the uttermost.

When I Think about the Lord, How He picked me up and turned me around, How He placed my feet on solid ground

It makes me wanna shout, Hallelujah, Thank you JESUS, LORD, you’re worthy, of all the glory, and all the honor, And all the praise.” (When I Think About The Lord – James Huey)

A lot like the one healed Samaritan leper. Are you mindful and grateful for your healing – like he was. Or have you moved on past that and got on with your life. Do you live with an attitude of gratitude?  Do you have a constant awareness of what God has done through Jesus by His spirit as a result of your faith – which has made you spiritually well - eternally. Just like the Samaritan leper.  I suspect that the other 9 men were healed physically but that was the limit and all they were really interested in. So many people just want relief for the moment.

Think about the Lord how He healed you to the uttermost and then shout Hallelujah – Thank you Jesus!

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone