Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" (Luke 17:17-18)
About 1 in 10 Americans struggle with depression.
About 1 in 10 Americans do not have enough to eat.
About 1 in 10 Americans have diabetes.
These are instances where you don’t want to be the one out of every ten. In each case, being the one means something is wrong.
When Jesus encountered ten lepers while traveling between Samaria and Galilee, all calling out to him from a distance to “have mercy on us,” Jesus had compassion for them and told them to go and show themselves to the priests. The priests were the ones who could declare these outcasts cured and therefore ‘clean.’ It was the priests who could give them their lives back and allow them back into society.
As the ten went, Luke tells us, “They were made clean.” Just like that, the disease that kept them separated from the community and left as beggars on the street was gone. Now they could live full lives once again.
But they still needed that clean bill of health from the priests. Nine out of ten kept going with that single-minded focus. Nine out of ten couldn’t wait to be declared ‘clean.’ Only one stopped, realized the blessing they received, and felt compelled to say thank you and give praise to God for this wonderful gift.
I wonder what percentage of Americans will realize their blessings today and give thanks? Be one of those who does.