After the Thanks, Now what?

Introduction

This time of year brings blessings as our church celebrates a pastoral and church anniversary. It’s a meaningful reminder of all we have to be grateful for. However, we also recognize that not everyone feels blessed or has these reminders. For many, the holiday season is one of the most stressful times of the year. It can be a reminder of what they’re missing, or it can stir anxiety around creating the “perfect” holiday.

After all our hard work, it’s natural to expect at least a simple thank you. But once the holidays are over and the thank-yous have been given, what happens next?

Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, traveling along the border between Samaria and Galilee. It's important to remember that He was heading toward the cross, fully aware of the ultimate sacrifice awaiting Him. Despite the weight of this journey, Jesus looked beyond His own impending suffering to bring hope to ten lepers who came to Him.

Leprosy was a devastating disease that affected the skin, eyes, nose, and nerves, often leading to severe physical disfigurement body parts would just rot and fall off. It was highly contagious, and those with leprosy were forced to live in exile(quaratine), separated from society. According to Jewish law, they had to shout, “Unclean, unclean,” when others approached to prevent spreading the disease. In Jesus’ time, there was no known cure, if you did not die leprosy could last as long as 30 years leaving those afflicted with little hope for healing or acceptance.

Nothing to be thankful for?

Jesus saw and heard the lepers calling out, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” (Luke 17:13). Filled with compassion, He responded, “Go, show yourselves to the priests” (Luke 17:14). Interestingly, Jesus didn’t heal them right away. Instead, He gave them a command that required their faith in Him—they had to go to the priests, who were the ones authorized to determine if they were healed and could be declared clean. “As they went, they were cleansed” (Luke 17:14).

Imagine what might have been going through their minds as they turned to go. Did the healing happen gradually, or was it immediate as they obeyed? Scripture doesn’t say. But what we do know is that each of them showed faith simply by starting on the path Jesus directed. Now my They trusted His word and acted on it.

How many of us have suffered 30 years of some type of affliction simply because we did not ask God to heal us.

How many of has asked God to heal us but haven’t taken action to be part of our own healing.

Some of have had a lifetime of trauma we ask God but do not act !!

The one man who was healed by a simple touch of Jesus

When step out on faith it gives us a chance to have something to be thankful for

Adversity creates opportunity for us to walk by faith.