Why Do Strangers Get Mercy and Give Gratitude

This is about a stranger getting Mercy and giving gratitude. Lessons learned from the 10 lappers. 

There is more to being healed. This massage struck me last morning when I was reading my Bible. For sometime now I have been reading the book of Luke's Gospel, it is such a book packed full of wisdom and exploration. I recommend you reading it with a concordance which brings more meaning and broder understanding of some not-so-easy to understand areas like most parable spoken by our Master Jesus. So, back to Luke. Reading from the KJV. In Luke  17:11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.  

17:12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:  

17:13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.  

In this verse, they cried Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. Have you ever been in a situation that, the only thing you can say is Lord have mercy on me. Was mercy the right request at this moment, I mean they needed help and it was a healing help. But the word mercy is a word that summarize our hopelessness, our inability to explain our impotency - our inability to help ourselves. The Hebrew word for mercy is rachamim, which is a plural word that means "care, be mild, have mercy, have tender affection, have compassion". It comes from the word racham, which means to love tenderly, to pity, to sympathize with, and to have compassion on. You see how complete the word mercy is - mercy covered their sins and moved further to heal them. So you see sometimes just say Lord, Master, Jesus have mercy on me and be sure you are deliberate, let it come from within. As simple as it sounds can come through for you. Can ease the pain. You never can tell how far mercy can go for you.

17:14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.  

17:15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God.

And one of them the 1 of 10, became the 1 of 1. And when he saw.

17:16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.  

Why is there more faith in a stranger than a child of God's kingdom? A stranger has nothing to lose, he comes with all to receive one. He comes with faith to receive that one mercy, he comes with his heart to receive that one prayer, he comes with his mind to receive that one miracle. He doesn't care how the savior looks, where he comes from or where he's going. But the child of the kingdom the 'Jew' is more careful, more conscious, more familiar with the Master, he can easily predict he's move. He knows how to pray, he is locked in that doctrine and rules and regulations. He is not grateful. All this kills his faith and he becomes normal and don't really care if he gets any miracle.

17:17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?  

17:18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.  

17:19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

Now this one guy who came back to give thanks to God became the 1 of 1 to be whole. He never even knew there was something as being whole. I even thought to be healed is enough but gratitude also has a way of adding an extra. You too can remember when you gifted someone a measure of anything and he or she thanks you, you just feel like adding more. And he was whole, the others where only healed meaning they can naturally be sick again but this guy was made whole. That miracle is not the best you've received, have you tried thanking God enough for that one miracle. If you did you would have gotten a sign and a wonder. Friend there is still more if you are grateful enough to thank him.

Let us pray: Father thank you for today we've seen the reality of mercy and gratitude. Help us to me grateful that the mercy we've received from you can set us free. Free from all our crisis, all our trials, all Lord Jesus of our fears. Take care of us, and very much thank you for all, thank you for everything you've done for us. Lord we give thanks. This we pray in Jesus name. Amen.