“And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 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. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.” Luke 17:12-19

Leprosy is a horrible disease that affects the nervous system. Because lepers cannot sense pain, some go through life without fingers, toes, hands, feet and even limbs. These ten lepers in Luke had their lives gloriously changed! Yet, only one fell at the Lord’s feet and glorified Him. Where were the other nine?

A writer made a list of their probable excuses for not returning: One waited to see if the cure was real, while the other waited to see if it would last.

One figured, “I’ll thank Jesus later.”

Another decided, “I must never have really had leprosy.”

One reasoned, “I would have gotten well anyways.”

One gave glory to the priest and another exclaimed, “Jesus didn’t really do anything!”

One mumbled, “Any Rabbi could have done it,” while the last said, “I was already much improved.”

Whatever excuses we may muster to neglect praising God, we are wrong. We have been given new life in Christ, our eternal future has been gloriously changed. Don’t be like the nine. Live as the Samaritan did—on your face at the feet of the Savior.