Daily devotional · November 2
The One Who Came Back
“While Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. As He entered one of the villages, He was met by ten lepers. They stood at a distance and raised their voices, shouting, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When Jesus saw them, He said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were on their way, they were cleansed. When one of them saw that he was healed, he came back, praising God in a loud voice. He fell facedown at Jesus’ feet in thanksgiving to Him—and he was a Samaritan. “Were not all ten cleansed?” Jesus asked. “Where then are the other nine? Was no one found except this foreigner to return and give glory to God?” Then Jesus said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well! ””
Ten men with a painful, isolating disease asked Jesus for mercy, and all ten were healed as they went. Only one turned around, praising God loudly and falling at the feet of Jesus. He was also a foreigner, someone the others would have looked down on. Jesus notices the nine who kept walking. The story is not a scolding so much as an invitation: receiving a gift and returning to the Giver are two different things. It is easy to move on to the next need without pausing over what has just been answered. Gratitude is how we come back. Today, think of one thing you asked God for that has already been granted, perhaps something small you stopped noticing. Take two minutes to go back to Him and say thank you, by name, for that specific thing.
Prayer
Jesus, I want to be the one who comes back. Thank You for the answers I have overlooked. Amen.