Return to Glorify God

            And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. (Luke 17:15-16)

Passing through Samaria, Jesus met ten lepers who were outcasts of society. With faith, they cried out for Jesus’ healing power and were miraculously cured after they heeded Jesus’ instruction to show themselves to the priests. Yet, except for one, nine of the healed lepers walked away, never to see or speak to Jesus again.

These nine healed lepers failed to recognize that, despite the social rift between the Jews and Samaritans, Jesus had compassionately chosen to heal them.  Though they had faith to cry out and act upon Jesus’ instruction, their faith had not matured to the point of gratitude—to be moved by Jesus’ love and to glorify God with a thanksgiving heart.

When trials come our way, we too cry out to God with faith. But when God’s mercy turns our sorrow to joy as it did for the healed lepers, we may also unwittingly forget the One who healed us or carried us through our hardships.  We simply carry on with our lives, and sadly do not thank and glorify Jesus for His help.

Our strength in faith is not only shown when we turn to God for help, but it is demonstrated when we can return to God and thank Him for guiding us through our trials. It is just like the single healed leper who not only cried out to Jesus with faith, but returned to glorify Jesus when he was healed.

From living a painful life as an outcast in society, the healed leper could now live a blessed life. Jesus gave him a renewed sense of living—to live for Jesus as a testament to His saving grace.  How could he not but return to thank Him? Similarly, if we know how to turn to Jesus for help during our trials, we must return to thank Him for His loving compassion when our trials have passed, and live a life to glorify God.

Questions for Reflection

1.      When God saves or helps us in troubled times, do we return to thank and glorify Him?

2.      Do we tend to think that our faith is strong just because we turn to God for help? How does He want our faith to mature?