Does anyone have that one friend who is just TO genuine in real life that it almost doesn’t seem authentic and they put you to shame with their overall goodness as a human? I know that someone has already popped into your mind! Seriously, how do these people even exist?

I had the privilege of working with someone like that and he’s basically a mix between Jack Pearson and Atticus Finch. The man is just a good guy, amazing husband and incredible father.

Enough about him already though, jeez people we know he’s awesome, I want to focus more on something he taught me during our time together.

He used to always teach Luke 17:11-19 to our team after any of our big events where God had showed up in powerful ways.

¹¹ On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. ¹² And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance ¹³ and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” ¹⁴ When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. ¹⁵ Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; ¹⁶ and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. ¹⁷ Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? ¹⁸ Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” ¹⁹ And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Why would my colleague always want to teach this after God had shown up mightily in our midst?

He would teach it because we are a forgetful people.

It’s easy to run to God when we need something and for him to be incredibly gracious to heal or provide. Then, more often than not, we are like the nine lepers who just keep walking on without giving thanks to God.

I must confess that I have done this more times than I can count. We truly are a forgetful and ungrateful people.

What should we do instead? We should be like the cleansed leper who returns. Let’s look at how he responds to God healing him.

1. He notices that he’s healed – we should be aware of the many blessings in our life.
2. He turns back around – we must take pause from our daily business to turn our eyes to God, instead of quickly moving to the next thing.
3. He praises God with a loud voice – we should praise him for his goodness towards us.
4. He falls at the feet of Jesus – we should remember the one who gave us mercy in the first place.
5. He gives thanks – we should give thanks to God on repeat.

I’m grateful for my friend always calling me back to pause, praise and give thanks to God. It’s a lesson I’ll never forget.

May we always live like the one who returns.