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November 25 Daily Devotional

Strangers Become Citizens

Frans Bakker

There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. —Luke 17:18

Bible Reading

Luke 17:11–19

Devotional

Ten lepers were healed. Nine went home and only one returned. The nine forgot to thank Christ. But even this man forgot something. The nine forgot to go to Christ, but this man forgot to go to the priest. We read that when he saw that he was healed—and that means while he was yet on the way—he returned. He did not continue on his way to the priest. He was so overwhelmed with God’s mercies that he forgot to go to the temple. This is true thankfulness. One can be so awed with the goodness of God that he forgets other things. This man preferred to go to another Priest, to the precious High Priest from whom this gift proceeded, and to fall down at His feet.

When the leper saw that he was healed, he returned to Christ. He turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God. He used all his strength to exalt God. He could not be separated from this One who had given him so much. He returned, worshiped, and fell down at the feet of Christ. He comes back as an unworthy one, as if to say, “Lord, Thou wast under no obligation to do this.”

This was ultimately the man’s conversion. Not only was his body made whole, but also his soul. He came to realize this at the feet of Christ. There he saw that the Lord was able to give more than physical healing.

It is so necessary that the goodness of God lead to repentance. This is what took place in the man who was healed. His conversion involved a realization that he could not do without the Benefactor, the One who had bestowed the gift of new life upon him. Love had now been placed in his heart. In turn, this gift caused love to be born in his heart and it would not let the Benefactor go.

This leper was, as we read, “a Samaritan.” He was one who was despised by the Jews; he was rejected by the covenant people. He was a stranger, Christ said, but now this stranger came back. This miracle of grace happened to a stranger.

That is still how matters take place in the kingdom of God. Those who consider themselves outcasts and unworthy, and those who have no rights left, are redeemed. Strangers become citizens and citizens become strangers. That is God’s free love. And to whom is this love revealed? It is revealed to the ones who have no rights before God. They see that they are unworthy, and these humble ones receive the blessing.

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.

 

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