Mindful of Faith -- Free of Sickness

"And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole." (Luke 17: 19)

Jesus went about healing and doing good wherever He went (Acts 10: 38)

He moved in those who had faith in Him, for without faith, we cannot please God (Hebrews 11:6)

In Chapter 17 of Luke's gospel, ten lepers cried out to Jesus:

"And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." (Luke 17: 13)

They sought healing for their bodies, these ten men who had been ostracized from their countrymen and their kindred, and they believed that Jesus would heal them.

In some cases, Jesus touched the sick, in other cases He just spoke the word of healing. After just looking at then ten lepers, he told them to go to the priests. They were healed along the way!

But only one came back, and the Holy Spirit prompted Luke to record why:

"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." (Luke 17: 16-18)

As a Samaritan and a stranger to the commonwealth of Israel, this man did not know the law, nor was he under duress to break from of the plague in order to be accepted among other people. He simply believed and received.

For his faith, Jesus made him whole (v. 19)

This miracle fulfilled the following prophecy in Isaiah:

"Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant" (Isaiah 56: 6)

The covenant of faith, declared in Habakkuk 2: 4, was the standard for Father Abraham, which makes man righteous before God. For the nine others who were healed, they were most likely conscious of the law, not of God's grace:

"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3: 20)

and

"And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them." (Galatians 3: 12)

Those conscious of the law and its requirements will neutralize God's grace in their lives:

"Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.

"For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith." (Galatians 5: 4-5)

Be mindful of God's grace, and you will be free not only of all sickness, but by faith in Christ, no work of yourself, He will make you whole!