#1222. Are we worshippers? (31/1/25)

Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional as we continue in our Luke, Exploring Who Jesus is series.

At present, I'm only posting on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

From Luke 17:11-17, we reflect the condition of our worship - are we still overflowing with gratitude?

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‘Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”’ (Luke 17:11-17)

Luke 17:11–17

Only one of the cleansed lepers returns to thank Jesus. Luke also makes the point that the one who returned was a ‘Samaritan’ and a ‘foreigner’. God wants us to see that He wants to make people from all backgrounds into worshippers. We should not think that God can only reach certain people. Like this leper, Samaritan, foreigner, God can and will bring many people to Jesus and we should be ready to welcome all who enter our church community.

This section is also deigned to challenge each of us: are we still grateful? Do we ‘return to give praise to God’? Many of us, having experience the mercy and forgiveness of God, fail to worship. We become so fixated on our needs, problems, failures, pleasures, social media… that we are no longer grateful worshippers. We are like the child at Christmas who is ungrateful for the gifts they receive - if this reflects immaturity, what does our lack of worship say about us!

Worship is like a river, and the condition of our thinking and hearing is the source. Worship is the overflow of understanding and heart. This leper ‘saw that he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him.’ Seeing that we are ‘healed’ - have been cleansed of our sin and reconciled to God is the key to worship. Like this man, are we throwing ourselves at Jesus’ feet? Are we thanking Him? Though we were ‘foreigners’ - outside of God’s kingdom - we have been brought near!

To many, like the other nine, fail to return and worship. They take God’s blessings for granted. May this never be! In Psalm 137 we read:

‘By the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept when we remembered Zion. There on the poplars we hung our harps, for there our captors asked us for songs, our tormentors demanded songs of joy; they said, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!” How can we sing the songs of the Lord while in a foreign land?’ (Psalms‬ ‭137‬:‭1‬-‭4‬)

To many have failed to see that they are no longer in exile! Fail to see that they are no longer captive! They are not in a ‘foreign land’! They have been brought home and redeemed by Jesus but they’ve hung up their harps and hearts! It’s time to get up, pick up the harp and sing our ‘songs of joy’!

Let’s pray together as we finish

“Lord Jesus, I thank you for healing me of my sin and separation. You are worthy of my worship at all times. Like the example in today’s reading, may I return, again and again. to give your my exuberant, heart-felt worship. Amen.”