“Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice.” – Luke 17:15 

Scripture reading: Luke 17:11-19

The hardest arithmetic to master, it has been observed, is that of counting your blessings. We see that truth in the healing of ten lepers. All ten were in the same situation. All ten were afflicted with leprosy. All of them called out to the Lord for mercy and asked for healing. Jesus, kind, compassionate, gracious, merciful and all-powerful, healed all ten. But how many expressed gratitude? How many were filled with praise and adoration for their cleansing? Only one, and he was a Samaritan, not even a true Israelite.

Unfortunately, that scenario is not a one-time event that took place thousands of years ago. That event has repeated itself throughout history innumerable times. Leprosy is a dreaded disease indicative of our sinfulness. Just as Jesus mercifully cleansed the lepers, He cleanses everyone who comes to Him when they acknowledge their sin with genuine repentance and ask for forgiveness with true saving faith in Him alone.

That describes you and me, if by grace our faith and trust is in Christ alone. But how often do we get so busy with our lives that we fail to reflect on the cleansing that we have in Christ? I have to admit that my arithmetic is not so good. I have often failed to count my blessings and express my gratitude to God. What about you? Seeing that you and I are cleansed by the precious blood of Jesus Christ, do we daily express our gratitude to Him?

Suggestions for prayer

Ask God to enable you to express gratitude for salvation more consistently and faithfully. And if you have never been cleansed, pray for salvation with assurance, for Jesus has promised, “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” (John 6:37)

Pastor Ted Gray is a retired minister in the United Reformed Church of North America. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.