"Where Are The Nine?"

by D. Smith, Lerwick | Category: General | Aug 1980

Although the world loves its own and responds to its own language (see John 15:19; 1 John 4:5) the general attitude of men one to another very largely follows their attitude to God, for those who "fear not God" regard not men (Luke 18:4). Those who resent the authority of heaven's throne will not readily bow to recognized rule on earth, and if the goodness and longsuffering of God brings no response, the kindness of men will also pass without appreciation. Men owe gratitude to a faithful Creator who in His infinite wisdom has made man in His image, giving to all "life and breath and all things" and at immeasurable cost has made possible their salvation from eternal ruin.

Because it is important to give thanks to God, the great Adversary causes men to deny that the blessings of life come from God. They are therefore unable to acknowledge Him with gratitude. Such was the attitude which characterized the ancient world: "... knowing God, they glorified Him not as God, neither gave thanks" (Rom. 1:18-21). The base unthankfulness of the human heart is one of the ugly features that asserts itself more fully in the grievous times of the last days, "for men shall be ... unthankful, unholy" (2 Tim. 3:2).

How different was the attitude of the Lord Jesus Christ, whose whole life was a thank offering to His God and Father! So often He lifted up His voice and said, "I thank Thee", and although His path on earth was beset by hardship and privation, never once did He complain or fail to glorify the One who had sent Him. In like manner He duly acknowledged the human kindness shown towards Him and the little service rendered by those whose hearts He had won.

The believer who is saved by putting faith in the Son of God becomes a new creature with a new attitude to God and men, yet he may fail to appreciate all that has been done for him. An example of this is seen in the reaction of the ten lepers who in their sad and loathsome state cried, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us", to which He replied, "Go and shew yourselves unto the priests" and as they went they were cleansed (Luke 17:11-19). Only one of the ten lepers, when he realized he had been healed, returned glorifying God, and giving Him thanks. To the shame of all the others, he who showed such gratitude was a Samaritan, an alien to Israel and to the God of Israel. The other nine who were Israelites should have realized that gratitude is an obligation on the part of the godly. Did not Moses say, "This is my God, and I will praise Him"? and David: "0 give thanks unto the Lord"?. On this occasion the Samaritan was a true Jew, for "he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God" (Rom. 2:29). Rich and lasting was this man's joy when the Lord Jesus said "Arise and go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole". In this humble and sincere act of gratitude the alien had given "glory to God", for God is glorified by a thankful and appreciative spirit.

Gratitude to God will have its counterpart in gratefulness to men for the succour and service we receive from each other along life's way. This is illustrated in one of the most beautiful incidents recorded in the Scriptures when David reciprocated the kindness of Jonathan with the kindness of God in giving Jonathan's invalided son Mephibosheth an honourable place at the king's table.

What a sad dearth of thankfulness there is in the world today! As children of God, saved and sanctified through the work of Christ, the Spirit would instruct us, "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus to you-ward". "Giving thanks always for all things". If we lose our sense of appreciation, and the wells of thanksgiving dry up in our souls, then the fruit we bear will inevitably suffer a severe blight. How vital that we should be a people to His praise, who "Give thanks unto the Lord" declaring His doings among the people "for He hath done excellent things".

May God give us each the grace to recognize the kindness of the Lord and

also the kindness of those who, like Abimelech of old, do good to a sojourner and pilgrim (Gen. 21:22,23).

D. Smith, Lerwick | Aug 1980
General