Luke 17:11-19 (NRSV)
Read Luke 17:11-19 on biblegateway.com
Verse 11On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. Verse 12As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, Verse 13they called out, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" Verse 14When he saw them, he said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were made clean. Verse 15Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. Verse 16He prostrated himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Verse 17Then Jesus asked, "Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Verse 18Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Verse 19Then he said to him, "Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well."
Devotion
Ninety-year-old Pastor Schmidt talked about living on bonus time. Yes, he had lived longer than his expected 70 years, but his bonus time started when he survived the 1918 flu epidemic. He celebrated every day after that as a special gift from God, with a passion for using his bonus time to do good in the name of the one who healed him – Jesus.
Pastor Schmidt’s healing from the flu was important to him, but the most important healing came from the experience of dying to himself, to his own goals and desires in life. And God gave him new life as a child of God whose life would be given in service to Christ’s church.
Jesus said to the grateful one who had been cured, “Go on your way; your faith has made you well.” May you hear these wonderful healing words in your own life this day.
Prayer
Healing God, only you can restore the brokenness in our lives. Thank you for your healing touch that makes us whole and well. Amen.