We all know the story of the 10 lepers who Jesus healed. One of the ten returned to thank Him. The other nine were simply happy to have their need met and rushed along to live their lives to the full.
So was Jesus upset? No, I believe not. He loves people. He loves to heal and restore the sick and broken.
But what did Jesus truly desire for them? What was the fullness that He promised in John 10:10 when He said, “I have come that you may have life, and have that life more abundantly”? Jesus came to introduce mankind to His Father. He came to introduce them to a life of knowing His Father. He came to show them that they did not need to live selfish lives, but had the option to live by Father’s love instead.
Regarding this life of love, the 10 lepers (including the thankful one) knew very little. They could not see nor perceive this love or relationship for they were simply too focused on their own need.
This is the great tragedy of the church at large. She is too bound up by her own wounds, pain, need and endless striving to ‘save self’, that she fails to recognize her great purpose – to be the bride of the One who loves her.
The great tragedy is that most of God’s people will strive (for a while at least) to press into Him to have their ‘leprosy’ healed, but very few will seek to love and be loved by Him. Their love simply ends at the point where self is healed, touched or elevated by God. They fail to understand the meaning of His great love. They fail to understand His desire to be one with them.
Failure, lack or sickness is a great door through which we seek Him. But let us not stop there. Let us press beyond our need and engage the One who loves us. Only His love can transform us into the loving faithful bride. Only His love opens the door so that we may have and live His life and have and live in His life more abundantly.
Stay hungry…
