Pivotal Thankfulness

Recently I had to pivot.  You know that moment when you stop dead in your tracks and know you need to head back in the other direction for various reasons.

There was a man in the Bible that did a similar thing. Luke 17:11-19; Jesus heals ten men with leprosy. He tells them to go show themselves to the priests (knowing they’d be clean and healed when they got there, the priests would verify the clean bill of health).  All took off. All were healed. But one stopped. One pivoted and returned. When he got to Jesus, he threw himself at His feet thanking Him. Jesus asked, “Where are the others?”  Nine were missing.  Only this one man returned to thank and praise Jesus.  This man’s action not only acknowledged what Jesus did, (praise).   But acknowledged Who Jesus was (worship). Jesus merely gave instruction. What power! HE is worthy of the stop, worthy of the pivot, worthy of the return. Worthy of thanksgiving.

Notice too, the healing took place once the men began to walk (to the priests).  Their faith, their obedience—their participation in the healing.  Jesus spoke.  They obeyed. They were healed. What would have happened if one mischievous guy threw his hands on his hips and defiantly declared, “What good will THAT do!” Defiance only brings delay (See 2 Kings 5). Don’t be defiant. Often simple obedience can make a world of difference.

The narrative goes on, Jesus tells the one man, “Stand up, your faith has made you well” (v19, NASB). The context conveys Jesus heals all but shares His disappointment in the others lack of thankfulness. The man returning, falling at His feet—Jesus gave him a healing, a wholeness beyond the physical the others did not receive.  The one man cherished the Giver—greater than the gift. Jesus didn’t heal with the expectation (or required) response of gratitude. He healed out of love. He healed due to mission (Jesus went about teaching, preaching and healing – Matthew 4:23. See also John 6:38-40, Mark 10:45, John 3:17).

There is one more thing where I want to run my finger over the text. The narrative found it important enough—JESUS too pointed it out.  The returning thank-filled man was a Samaritan. In short, Jews and Samaritans didn’t get along. Jews thought the other were unclean and distanced themselves, the mindset and behavior conveying—unworthy. Yet.  Jesus heals. The Samaritan obeys.  The Samaritan returns. What a great principle: Jesus does NOT discriminate. (See too, the woman at the well, John 4).

I too pivoted the other day. Following this principle of thankfulness. I, like the one man—stopped.  I went back to Jesus, threw myself (metaphorically) at His feet and thanked Him. Realizing my current circumstance is not ideal or by far even favored. BUT. What am I thankful for? What has Jesus told me to do? Am I obedient?  Am I focusing on the Giver? Am I thankful for what I do have?  May I not be counted among the “where are the others?”

Thankfulness.

As we step into this seasonal focus of thanksgiving, may we not make it more difficult than it is, or over think it to where we merely give up.  Fall at His feet. HE is worthy of the stop, the pivot, the return. Worthy of praise-filled thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving.

In Him, DeDe (“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love & good deeds” – Hebrews 10:24).