Saturday, January 12, 2008

Ten Lepers Healed, and The One Who Came Back On His Own

I love the story of how Jesus healed the ten lepers in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 17:11-19:

11Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. 12As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13and called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"
14When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed.
15One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
17Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" 19Then he said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well."

Did you ever notice that Jesus never commanded the healed man to stop and praise him? The praise sprung up from within him. That, I believe illustrates a very important principle of the spiritual life. Theologians call it a habitus. An indwelling principle of love and worship that unbelievers just don't have. Love is now inhabiting the man's life. If spontaneous affection for Christ arises in your heart at various points, you have this principle, and you may be assured of a saving relationship to Him.

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