Healing versus Changing

Exodus 14

"For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness." (v12b)

How often this sentiment dominates our actions. We say to God, "Why are you out to kill us? We're better off with you in more of an advisor role rather than director." Of course, nobody says that verbally. Rather, we go and read scripture. We hear it preached and taught. We are exhorted to lives of hospitality, generosity and selflessness, and we leave thinking about how idealistic that all sounds and how life just isn't like that (if we bother thinking about it at all). Yesterday, we heard this called "sluggishness". In addition, I call it spiritual inertia. We are a stubborn people when it comes to making real change. We'll spend huge amounts of time and energy rationalizing every aspect of our lives until it makes sense to us (we would call that wisdom, right?), and then we'll dare anyone to tell us we should change. Leave Egypt for the wilderness? Are you crazy?

Luke 17

Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” (v17-18)

This is where the title comes from. Ten were cleansed. One was changed. Gratitude is a powerful force. It requires a level of humility. If I think I'm owed something, why would I be grateful upon receiving it?

And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.” (v 19)

This is an interesting statement considering the physical healing took place for all ten. Could Jesus be talking about a different kind of wellness?