Is good enough good enough? Is settling for the immediate gratification fix best for us in the long run? Or even in the right now? Are we seeking the right sources for our needs, our hurts, our relationships, our healing? Are we cheating ourselves of receiving the best by settling for good?
In this next verse of thanks there is a beautiful and powerful example of taking the extra steps from good to best and recognizing the true source of complete healing.
Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem and He was between Samaria and Galilee. On His journey He met ten men with leprosy. Recognizing Him as Jesus, they called out to Him for pity. Jesus, knowing their needs, healed them from that distance and told them to report to the priests (for they had to verify their cleansing and okay them to return to society). One of these men, seeing that he was healed, came back to Jesus praising God.
"He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him - and he was a Samaritan." Luke 17:16
Jesus wondered where the other nine were - and by His words, I'm going to assume there were Jews among the ten lepers - because He said, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" (Luke 17:17-18) A little side-note: Jews and Samaritans didn't normally associate. Jews viewed Samaritans as unclean half-breeds being of mixed blood as a result of left behind Israelite exiles that intermarried with Gentiles brought in by the Assyrians. Plus the Samaritans looked down upon the Jews because of the hostility displayed when they destroyed the Samaritan temple on Mount Gerizim. Simply put, they were basically enemies in society's eyes. However, Jesus didn't live by the rules of men. Jesus asserted that love knows no national boundaries. So this coming together, in and of itself, was quite miraculous not to mention that Jesus cleansed him of his disease and outcast status by His divine power.
Now comes the best part of the story. The part that recognizes the true source of complete healing and brings us from good to best. This Samaritan leper, now healed and returned to Jesus to praise and thank Him for this miracle, not only receives physical healing but also spiritual healing. Jesus said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well." (Luke 17:19) This use of "well" means healed or saved. His sins were forgiven and he could now experience God's peace.
You see, the other nine, though they were healed and to be received back into society - which was HUGE and certainly good - really missed out on the best. They missed out because they didn't bother to thank Jesus for His good work for their cleansing. They missed out on being saved for eternity. They didn't recognize the source of their healing. They took their eyes off of Jesus and headed for the priestly blessing back into society rather than giving thanks to God and receiving the complete healing from sins' uncleanliness and eternal separation from God.
Oswald Chambers puts it so well in his words from "My Utmost for His Highest" - "The great enemy of the life of faith in God is not sin, but the good which is not good enough. The good is always the enemy of the best... Many of us do not go on spiritually because we prefer to choose what is right instead of relying on God to choose for us. We have to learn to walk according to the standard which has its eye on God."
Setting our eyes on God, on the redemptive work of the Son of Man on the cross is the key to receiving THE BEST. Salvation.
"No one has ever gone up into the presence of God except the One who came down from that Presence, the Son of Man. In the same way that Moses lifted the serpent in the desert so people could have something to see and then believe, it is necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up - and everyone who looks up to him, trusting and expectant, will gain a real life, eternal life." (John 3:14-15 MSG)
This giving thanks for God's good gifts which brings us yet more blessings from His hand is highlighted in Ann Voskamp's work "One Thousand Gifts." She asks, "Is this paradox - that giving thanks for what is, creates an appetite for more - not for more things, but for seeking more of God to give more glory?" The Samaritan's appetite was whet by Jesus' healing. It wasn't enough for him. He needed to return and be truly and completely healed, saved. He needed to return and give thanks for the good and receive the best for his obedience in seeing and acknowledging the true source of his healing.
"... they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and return and be healed" (Isaiah 6:10 NASB)
Jesus is the true source of healing. Complete healing. When we keep our eyes on Him and give Him thanks for what is, He blesses us with more than we ask for. That's my Jesus' style. He's the source of real life - here on earth and one day in heaven. Don't settle for good when you can receive the best by seeking Him, returning to Him and being healed.
"And be thankful." Colossians 3:15b
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