Luke 17:17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
Part of my pontificating on gratitude examined how healing often needs to occur before honest gratitude shows its worth. But apparent and obvious healing does not necessarily bring up a groundswell of thanksgiving. Why?
Here are NINE reasons why you (and me!) may be lacking in thankfulness after a healing:
- You feel you didn’t deserve the trial or wound in the first place. You were meant to live on this earth happy, healthy, wealthy and wise, not to mention well fed and loved. You deserve these things because you live and breathe.
- You suffer from blindness–you can’t even see that you’ve been healed. You may have spent a decade living hand-to-mouth but somehow you don’t even see that your bank account has been flush for a number of years now. You didn’t even realize that you genuinely laughed out loud last night after months of oppressive grieving.
- You treat your healing as a checklist item that is marked “done” and immediately push to the next problem to solve.
- You never really wanted healing in the first place. Your self-worth was built around either your self-pity or the pity and attention you garnered from others. Now that you’re healed, the spotlight might go away.
- You don’t want to acknowledge the Healer. He bugs you. You don’t even want to admit He exists, much less has anything to do with your own personal life. If you did, He might want something from you. Like gratitude.
- You’re cynical about the timeframe of the healing. Sure it’s great you’re healed, but why couldn’t it have happened a decade ago or even last week? You’ve missed opportunities or have lost much in the trial that you might never get back. Healing at this point seems pointless.
- You were never taught to express gratitude, and maybe no one ever bothered to express any to you. You look like a grown-up, but your heart never grew past toddlerhood.
- You’re too self-absorbed and have too much pride to admit that Someone outside of yourself had anything to do with your healing. You take pride on doing things “your way” and this healing just messes with that system.
- You remain disobedient to God’s command to be thankful (Col 3:15) because that is the most comfortable place to remain: in disobedience. Unthankfulness is just one more way to snub Him.
I don’t think Jesus was confused at all about what happened to the other nine that did not express gratitude when He asked the question. Instead, it was an indictment against humanity who too often rails against the One to whom they would show everlasting love and devotion “if only He would…”
The truth is that in Christ you have been healed, you are being healed, and in eternity you will be forever healed. May we confidently expose our wounds to Him, and trust Him for the work He is doing through them and because of them. And in all things (God help us), give thanks.
1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
note: see the Christian Writer’s Blog Chain for more thoughts on the theme of “Nine”
Gratefully His,
Thanks for your insights, Keri Mae. It's true, when people hate God, they are expressing ingratitude toward the blessings they've received. The 9 healed lepers is a perfect example of blessed people who nevertheless turned and resumed their lives. Only one actually showed gratitude. Sad, really.~ VT
Great job on this post, Keri Mae. Really nice way to use this scripture to tie with the theme for this month. Very thoughtful.
Terrific post, Keri Mae. Thanks for sharing it and tying it in to our topic. 🙂
Keri Mae, I have to admit it was a little hard to read this list. As one who struggles with pain daily and limitations from a permanent injury and who is raising three out of five kids with significant long-term illnesses, I have learned to praise God in the storm, in the midst of difficult circumstances, to trust, no matter what, to see beauty in small moments, glimpses of Heaven this side of the veil, because sometimes, for reasons we may never understand this side of Heaven, God chooses not to heal us in this life. Maybe learning to lay down my life and accept where He leads, whatever He allows, is healing too — the healing of my prideful, selfish heart, the beautiful gift of grace. You challenged me today, Keri Mae, and I am grateful — iron sharpens iron. Thank you.
Great thoughts for nine! I especially liked the one on not learning to express gratitude. So true in our society of we're owed it" thinkers so why should I be grateful.One of my favorite songs right now has these words…"In the middle of my little mess, I forget how big I'm blessed." I have a link to it on my site. It's great encouragement and is called "This is the Stuff" by Francesca Battistelli.
Thank you all for your comments. The truth is that I know all of those reasons a little too well. I'm afraid I am not a very humble learner and the trials that come are not received with the gratitude it ought. Thank you for letting me chew on these things, and learn from you all, too.
Great insights. I couldn't help thikig that 10% of those cured returned to thank him. Sort of validates the many are callled but fe are chosen theme. Peace and Blessings
I needed to hear all of these reasons. Thanks so much for sharing!
Keri Mae, fantastic. Love the scriptural basis of your post and thoughts at the end. From the comments listed people were obviously challenged. Well done.CH Dyer
Keri Mae, I for one am most thankful for your post and for you pointing out what is painfully true!
This was a very intelligently assembled and compelling list, Keri Mae. #4 especially resonated with me, perhaps because I see so many people in today's world who don't actually want to lose their infirmities. They draw what sense of self-worth and identity they have from living life as a victim. Some whose legs are healed praise God and put their legs to work immediately; others sulk over the fact they no longer have an excuse to spend their days on their rumps.Excellent thoughts, and a great "niner" list.
Thanks for this! I am teaching on this very passage this Sunday. Could I have your permission to use/share these 9 reasons? I think it would be very helpful to add a little poetic license as to why the other 9 lepers didn’t thank Jesus.
Sure, Paul.