In the Kingdom of God, made up of believers who have received God’s Son, Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, there our spiritual laws which govern the activity, productivity, and provision of God’s power and authority over our lives. Jesus came preaching the kingdom of God and demonstrating His authority from God in signs, wonders, and miracles. Many received, but many others, “even his own”, did not (John 1:11). Everything one receives from God is through faith (Hebrews 11:1). This law governs every transaction we receive from God: Salvation, deliverance, healing, and prosperity, for starters. The good news is, “God has given everyone a measure of faith” to be saved and to receive all subsequent blessings (Romans 12:3, Ephesians 2:8).
Many times when healing the sick, Jesus said, “Your faith has made you whole” (Matthew 9:22, Mark 10:52). But I believe there’s another spiritual law that can bring healing (and all blessings) as well: The law of Gratitude or Thanksgiving. Basically, it means that when we give God grateful, cheerful, sincere thanksgiving for gifts received, He responds with more, and often, greater gifts. This is clearly illustrated in Luke’s account of the 10 lepers who came to Jesus for healing (Luke 17:11 – 19).
All ten came to Jesus, and from a distance all ten called out to Him for mercy. They all had faith in Jesus to be healed. Jesus responded immediately to their faith: “Go and show yourselves to the priests” (vs.4). The fact that all ten obeyed and started for the Temple reveals they all believed in Jesus’ word. (Psalm 107 20: “He sent his word and healed them and delivered them from all their destruction”). This was necessary, because once a person was cast out from society with leprosy, he could not be reinstated until the priest pronounced him to be clean, and this required an eight-day ritual of cleansing, having blood and oil applied to his body (Ref.: Leviticus 14:-32). They would not have dared to go to the priest if they were still leprous.
Remarkably, all ten obeyed. Not one objected, “But how can we go to the priest while we’re still unclean?” Their faith was rewarded: “As they went they were healed” (vs.14). A wonderful aside to this story is the fact that it is God’s will to heal all! This is a powerful precedent — Jesus healed all ten who asked! Furthermore, we see that their healings were progressive: As they went, they were cleansed. This is an encouragement to us to continue to walk in faith and obedience once healing has begun, expecting to receive the completion.
“And one of them, when he sawl that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice, glorified God. And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks…” (vv.15-16). It’s amazing to me that only one leper stopped to thank Jesus for his healing — literally giving him back the life he lost when he became a leprous outcast. All ten had cried out loudly to Jesus to be healed, but only this one cried out: “Thank You, Lord!”
Even Jesus was surprised that only one came to thank Him, especially given the fact that he was a Samaritan. There was enmity between the Jews and Samaritans. They did not socialize or worship together. We can be certain that the only reason he was with the other nine lepers who were Jews, is they were all outcasts from society because of the scourge of leprosy they shared. But he was the lowest of the low!
Jesus said, “Did I not heal ten? But where are the nine? There are none that returned to give glory to God, except this stranger?” (vs.18). Samaritans were strangers to the covenants of Israel. They did not share the blessings of the seed of Abraham, God’s chosen people. Perhaps it was coming from such a place of humility that made him more thankful.
Perhaps because the others were Jews, they felt entitled to God’s blessings. A feeling of entitlement is the antithesis of gratitude. For Christians today, especially those of us who are in leadership, this is a pitfall we must be aware of, lest our expectation of blessing become motivated by pride and our thankfulness become insincere.
Jesus said to the Samaritan, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you whole” (vs.19). It appears that he received more than the nine: they were all healed, but he was made whole. This means to be whole in spirit, in soul, as well as in body! (1Thessalonians 5:23). His restoration was complete, his life forever changed!
We see it is possible to have sound faith, act on it in obedience, and not be thankful. One can be full of faith, obedient to the letter of the Word, and yet be self-centered and self-righteous. But a thankful heart beats within the breast of the humble in spirit. This one God will lift up! (James 4:10).
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