Go On Your Way

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus was going through the region between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:11-19

There are days, when no matter how faithful we truly are, and no matter how we trust God with all our needs in prayer, we don't know which direction to go and don't always know if our choices were right. Some days, the paths we are following are obscured by challenges or we get distracted by the people and situations on our way. Following God  can be complicated for us particularly if we are called to a different road than the crowd and serving in places most people won't ever understand. God is always drawing us back and setting us on the chosen path again.

Jesus heals ten lepers, but only the Samaritan returns to him. One out of ten came back and he was the alien among them. We don't know his motivation for turning back, except to say thanks and to be grateful to God. In his turning, Jesus assured him of the strength of his faith and that he was on the right road. God also finds ways and people to reassure us as we continue on our journeys in faith.

Today, I ask God to help me trust the direction I have been given, and to always be grateful for the blessings on the road. May we be agents of healing for those who are lost and afraid, knowing that God has more blessings for us all that we can even imagine.