Luke 17:11-19

Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they?” (v. 17)

My mailman says that every year, in the weeks prior to Christmas, his post office gets hundreds of letters addressed to Santa Claus, but that in the weeks after Christmas there is not a single letter addressed to Santa. So it goes. Many say “please”—few say “thank you.” Our petitions always outrun our gratitude.

You can hear disappointment in Jesus’ voice: “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they?” Only one man gives thanks—a Samaritan, no less.

Beyond that, only one man understands that he has done business with God, in the person of Jesus Christ. When the ex-leper falls at Jesus’ feet and praises God, he’s making the right connection. He realizes that Jesus has done for him what only God can do. Ten lepers find their healing, but only one finds the healer.

If we count our many blessings, but fail to recognize their source, then we still don’t get it. God is looking for a faith in us that will recognize the giver behind the gift. For that will be a sign that we have received the best gift of all—Jesus himself. “Get up and go on your way,” he says to us, “your faith has made you well.”

Prayer: Forgive my ingratitude.

Today’s devotional was written by Lou Lotz, the pastoral leader of Central Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This Lenten series comes from Words of Hope, whose mission is to build the church in the hard places through media. To learn more about the organization or subscribe to Words of Hope’s daily devotions, visitwww.woh.org.