By the Numbers
TEN
Diez (Spanish)
Zehn (German)
Dix (French)
Kumi (Swahili)
Ashar (Arabic)
There are lots of things with 10 that you may have taken for granted,
forgotten about or not realized:
• You have 10 fingers and 10 toes.
• Your phone number has 10 digits.
• There are 10 years in a decade.
• The Bible tells us to tithe 10 percent of our income.
• 10 quarters stacked next to each other equals 10 inches.
• Two soda cans stacked next to each other equals 10 inches.
• Five golf tees lined up next to each other equals 10 inches.
The Bible uses 10 several times, but my favorite is the story of the 10 lepers who were healed by Jesus. We find the story is found in Luke 17:12-19. Let’s do a quick recap:
“ . . . and as they entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, ‘Jesus, sir, have mercy on us!’
“He looked at them and said, ‘Go to the Jewish priest and show him that you are healed!’ And as they were going, their leprosy disappeared.
“One of them came back to Jesus, shouting, ‘Glory to God, I’m healed!’ He fell flat on the ground in front of Jesus, face downward in the dust, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a despised Samaritan.
“ ‘Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the nine? Does only this foreigner return to give glory to God?’
“And Jesus said to the man, ‘Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.’ ” (Luke 17:12-19 LB)
We can learn a lot from this story! Here are three takeaways:
#1: God Values the Least. He places honor on the poor, the broken, the messy, and the marginalized. The 10 Lepers were outcasts of society. And one of the 10 was a despised Samaritan—often seen as a “half breed.” Yet, Jesus cherished each one, heard their cries, and healed them.
#2: God Honors Faith. How much faith did the lepers have? It’s not important. The issue is, they ACTED in faith and headed to the priest per Christ’s instructions. According to Hebrews 11:6, it’s impossible to please God without faith.
#3: God Cherishes Gratitude. Only one of the 10 exhibited gratitude. Only one came back to Jesus, fell at the Lord’s feet and exuberantly thanked Him. Could we be offending God when we take for granted and don’t thank Him?
Check out what the apostle Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18:
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thesssalonians 5:18 ESV)
We’re not told to give thanks FOR all circumstances. But we are told to give thanks IN all circumstances.
Want to know what God’s will for your life is?
Reread the above Scripture.
It’s His will that you thank Him!
Go ahead.
Think of 10 things right now you can thank Him for.
And tomorrow? Think of 10 more!
Love,
Susie
