(Luke 17:11-16 ESV) ~ On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.
One of my personal qualities (or faults) is that I want to see results. When I embark in an endeavor I want to know what the outcome is going to be and whether or not it is worth my time, energy, and resources. Unfortunately, that doesn’t work well with our faith.
In these verses in the book of Luke, there are ten people who are diseased with leprosy. They are outcast from society and have formed their own little band of brothers. They have probably heard of the amazing miracles that Jesus had been performing around the region and wanted to get their own miracle as well. Understanding the law, they did not approach Jesus, rather, they stood at a distance and shouted to Him. They wanted mercy…
Jesus, in his abundant mercy, tells the lepers to go and show themselves to the priests. Then here comes the part that requires faith… The story continues on by saying, “As they went they were cleansed.”
As they went they were cleansed. Later in verse 19 Jesus tells one of the men that his faith is what made him well. Jesus could have reached out and touched the men and healed them instantly. He could have thought the word and healed them, or he could have simply refused to heal them. But Jesus, in His abundant grace, allows them to step out in faith and be healed. Had this been me, I may have asked why I wasn’t going to be instantly healed. Or maybe even waited to see the cleansing from leprosy before I headed to the priests because I didn’t want to be embarrassed just in case I wasn’t healed. My heart wants to trust Jesus, but often my actions show just the opposite.
Faith is walking through our lives daily and trusting that if the Lord said it, then it is absolutely true. If he says he’ll never leave us or forsake us, then it is true. We can walk with boldness in whatever endeavor he has for us. If he says our sins are forgiven, then it’s true. We can walk in freedom knowing that the guilt and shame are hanging on the cross and we have redemption from our struggles. Whatever we know to be true in Christ, we are to simply trust and go.
Is there an area in your life today that you need an extra measure of faith in? I pray that as you ask Him for the faith, you receive it in abundance.