The Difference between Healing and Wholeness is Gratitude

Consider the following passage of scripture from Luke 17:12-19:

• And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.-- Luke 17:12-19 (King James Version)

Archbishop Nicholas Duncan Williams graced our service this morning and spoke from his heart about things every pastor and leader should ponder. Among the many profound statements he made, he said something this morning about the 10 lepers that really struck me. He said, "the difference between healing and wholeness is gratitude."

In the above scripture, we are told that 10 lepers were healed and that only one of the 10 came back to give God glory. As a result, the one leper was not only healed but also made whole. The one leper that came back happened to be a Samaritan, half-breed who didn't deserve to be healed in the first place. Perhaps, this was the key that unlocked his wholeness? He knew he didn't deserve it and therefore, was that much more grateful for what God had done in his life. Sometimes, we are so focused on our covenant rights that we forget that God "lifted us from a pit and set our feet upon a rock to stay." We forget that "he who is forgiven much loves much." We forget that if he doesn't do another thing for us, He's still worthy of all our adoration and praise.

If you're pouting because your breakthrough hasn't come yet, give God thanks for what He has already done. Be like the one leper who returned to give God thanks--cultivate an attitude of gratitude. It will unlock the Father's bowels of compassion and initiate a work of wholeness in your life.

Healing addresses a specific, singular need. Wholeness is all-encompassing and makes right everything that might be out of order in your body, soul, and spirit. Psalm 100:4 says, "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name." Is there someplace in God you have not yet entered because you have not given Him proper thanks? Let gratitude unlock the door of wholeness in your life today. Tell God thank you.