Return to Jesus

Please read Luke 17: 11-19

This portion of scripture tells the story of God’s mighty power at work for ten individuals with leprosy. A simple call out to their Lord and he heals them on the
spot. The minutes that follow this miraculous healing, however, are quite telling. Only one returns to Jesus, to thank and praise God for the healing miracle that just took place in his life. Jesus gets directly to the point. He asks the man, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God…?”

The same question could be directed at me on a daily basis. How many small, simple and beautifully subtle whispers of God’s goodness are washed over me every day and how often my heart is filled with fear instead of faith, want instead of contentment and entitlement instead of gratefulness. I’m sure the other nine individuals were thankful to have been healed, but only one took the posture of returning to Jesus.

My heart’s desire is to return to Jesus to give praise to God for all of the big and little ways He is working. To turn from my fear and return to Jesus. To turn from my wanting and return to Jesus. To turn from my entitlement and return to Jesus.

God, give us eyes and hearts that are sensitive to the ways you work in our lives daily. Cultivate in us grateful hearts that give you the glory and help us to return to you the glory and praise.

Jenny Vollmer