On one occasion, 10 lepers cried out to Jesus for healing. As they followed His instructions to go and show themselves to the priests, they were cleansed. Though all 10 were healed of the dreaded disease of leprosy, only one returned to give praise to God. Jesus drew attention to the fact that this man was a foreigner. Why did only the Samaritan stop to give thanks? Some have suggested that the nine had grown accustomed to receiving many blessings at God’s hand. They began to take the blessings of God for granted.Moses had warned centuries before against taking the blessings of God for granted. He wrote, “When the Lord your God brings you into the land He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you-a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant-then when you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord, Who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”David adds, “Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits-Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, Who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”Let’s not forget all His benefits. Thank Him for our families, our friends, our freedoms, our food and basic needs. Thank Him for our faith-for Jesus, God’s indescribable gift. Jesus provides abundant life. His blessings are too numerous to count.I must conclude now, I’ve just received another blessing from God. My granddaughter just climbed onto my lap with a book in hand to read to Papa. I am blessed indeed! I’m rich and so are you. Let’s not forget His many benefits. Thank God now and always.• Ken Haskins is pastor of First Christian Church in Carson City.
