During our, Bible study this week with people from Battleground Skate Park. We were going over the beginning of Acts chapter three. The question was posed what if the lame man that was healed just walked away and never praised God. Why would he not praise God! This reminded me of the account where Jesus healing of the ten lepers. 

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. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭17:11-19‬ ‭ESV‬‬

So not all the people that were healed by Jesus in the scriptures gave glory to God for their healing. They just went on with their lives not returning to thank Jesus or praising God for all that was done. Only one of ten lepers that were healed, only ten percent, came back to honor God.

We as believers have a tendency to not give honor to God for all the things he has done for us. When God moves in our lives in a big way we are quick to give Him praise. Those big moments might only be about ten percent of the time. We forget the small blessings or do not recognize when he has moved.

The one leper notice he was healed “when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice;”. The nine lepers must not of notices they were healed. Maybe it was that they were only looking for the big miracle, expecting to be healed right away. Whatever caused then not to notice it did not prevent then from being healed. Jesus said, “Were not ten cleansed?”

God is and has been moving in our lives and we have been oblivious to it because He did not move the way we expected. I desired to spend more time with God and with my busy schedule of work and ministry I had not made the time. My expectation was that God would move on my finances and I would not have to work my current job. That is how I saw it would this happen.

Once we were all placed on a “Stay at Home Order” I was like the one leper I took notice and carve out my mornings to spend time with God. I thank God, not for COVID 19 but for His provision of time. I still work forty plus hours a week from home but I don’t have the travel time as I once did. My wife and I have determined to get up every morning to worship and pray.

I know that many thought that the “Stay at Home order” was bothersome, far-reaching, and to much governmental control, and there might be some to that. I decided that I was going to be like the one leper that notice where God moved for me in my life. I decided to turn back towards Him.

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28 ESV

As human beings, we have a tendency to look for the negative in every situation. Our news media lend to this by reporting all the negative and worst-case scenarios. This leads to having better ratings which makes them more money.

This is why we do not notice when God has moved in our lives. God is a good God and He only does good. We need to be more conscious of when God is moving in our lives. We need to be like the one leper, acknowledging God in every way.

APPLICATION

• Look for the best in every situation, person, and action.
• Acknowledge and praise God when He works in your life.
• Give Thanks for the little thing He has done.