November 22 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Luke 17:11–19

Devotional

The ten lepers were completely healed by the amazing power of God. What a great celebration there must have been in the families of these men! What joy the lepers must have had as they went to the priests and were healed along the way. They must have run home, and back to a full life. Let them be happy and let them rejoice! Who, when delivered from death, will not be very joyful?

But nine of these ten men forgot something. What did they forget? They forgot the Benefactor, the One who blesses. They were happy, and that is good. But do you know what they were not? They were not thankful. There is a great difference between joy and thankfulness. Thankfulness returns to God. These men went first to their houses and forgot Christ. They were happy with the gift, but forgot the Giver. Here is that old sin from Paradise, namely, to separate the gift from the Giver. This is what Adam did. He was placed in Paradise and he desired Paradise, but not the God of Paradise. He wanted a Paradise without God; he wanted the gifts without the Giver. This is what comes out in these nine men.

What about that faith that the ten lepers had when they merely went forth on Christ’s word and placed their trust in His power? What kind of a faith did they have? It was nothing more than a miraculous faith. With a miraculous faith we may receive much, as we see with the lepers. A miraculous faith will let you go to the priest on the word of Christ to hear a declaration of healing. You will go with a body that is full of abscesses from head to toe. But even if you have faith that God can do everything and that the Lord will heal you, if you have no love, it will benefit you nothing.

The deeds of the nine lepers showed that they had need of no more than a god to deliver them in their needs. That was all. They may have spoken much of what faith can do, for a miraculous faith may allow that, but it did not unite them to Christ. But when the gifts unite men to the Giver, then thankfulness is evidenced. These men did not have thankfulness.

Later on, perhaps they will cry, “Crucify Him,” and say, “Away with Him.” How many people would there have been among that crowd who had experienced His miracles and who still cried out for His crucifixion? How many would there have been, who, when healed of their lameness and were able to walk again, had no more need of Christ?

We can enjoy His blessings and still fall short of the glory of God. We can receive health and prosperity from God and yet still despise Him! Do we show thankfulness in our lives? Are the blessings enough for us, or do we need Him above all?

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.