Bridging the Distance

He fell facedown at his feet, thanking him. And he was a Samaritan. —Luke 17:16

We never get any closer to Jesus than when we come with humble gratitude. The ten lepers who first met Jesus “stood at a distance” (Luke 17:12)—lepers weren’t allowed to come close to those who were “clean.” The healed leper who “fell facedown at [Jesus’] feet, thanking him” (v. 16) was the only one who ever got close to Jesus. Gratitude places us in close proximity to Christ, where we experience the fullness of His redeeming power and enjoy the blessing of His presence.

The thankful leper was a Samaritan. Unlike some of us who can’t remember a time when we weren’t at least somewhat aware of God’s presence and power, this man had never known the true God until Jesus came into his world and transformed his life. After being separated from Jesus by a religious, cultural, and physical gulf, he loved what he saw in Jesus—up close and personal.

Do you love what you see in Jesus? Gratitude will help bridge the distance and draw you close.

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Choosing Gratitude: Your Journey to Joy

©2009 Revived Hearts Foundation

Scripture taken from The CSB