“Manners will open doors for you only if you use them,” I tell my children. Good manners show respect, honor, and value to others. It’s a language anyone can speak regardless of age, it brings honor to all parties involved. Usually manners are taught to children by their parents who must model this to bring clarity. It’s important to say, “Yes, Sir”, “Please”, and “Thank you.” Maybe I am old fashioned but I still believe, “Treat others as you would like to be treated,” is a word Jesus would want us to obey.
I guess the question comes, “Does God care about manners?”
Well, according to Luke 17:11-19, I believe God does care about manners. In our daily lives, we need to express our concerns and desires openly before God. We are His children, so He longs to hear from us. One of the main ingredients for a powerful prayer life is a thankful heart. It’s easy to allow the cares of the world to entangle our heart but a thankful heart untangles it all. Being thankful will bring the peace of God, confidence in His care, and builds one’s faith.
In this passage, Jesus is traveling to the holy city, Jerusalem, but He is on the border between Samaria and Galilee. While Jesus was walking, ten men appear who are covered with leprosy. In Biblical times, leprosy was considered “unclean”, so they had to be removed from the healthy society. The leprosy lived in a secluded location outside the city gates, so they would only receive the scraps of food. Wherever they went, the lepers had to cry out “unclean” to announce their entrance. Instead of saying a normal greeting of “hello”, it was basically get out of my way, I am unclean. They would never be permitted to engage in “normal” society unless a miracle of God occurred. Jesus was present to the cries of these men who called Him, “Master.” All of the men cry for Jesus to have pity upon them, so He advises,
“Go, show yourself to the priests.” (Luke 17:14)
As they obey the Lord’s instructions, all of them were healed. Take careful note of Luke 17:15, “One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.”How many times have we cried to God for a miracle? When He does perform it, do we thank Him? Or just expect it because He is God?
Once the man realized the miracle, He comes to Jesus instantly and thanked him. Scripture also points out he was a Samaritan. A Samaritan wasn’t welcomed by the Jews due to their difference of belief about the holy mountain and other matters. Regardless of what all of the matters, the Jews hated the Samaritans. Sadly, according to Jesus only the enemy brought praise to Him. Jesus healed ten lepers, only one brought praise. Astonishing not even half of the healed lepers brought the praise that was due Him. May this never be said of us, Jesus deserves praise from His people, the children of God. If the only miracle we receive is our salvation, we still need to praise Him. Just as earthly parents, we give our children many gifts, so does our Father. Our Heavenly Father has given us beyond our imagination, a wonderful life. Oh, yes there are trials but I overcome it all through Him. He is my greatest reward; my heart is blessed to know Him.
Building stronger marriages together,
Tina Wetor
