Re: Where are the other nine?

As the thanksgiving holiday has come and gone I have continued to have this idea of “Re:Turn” going around in my head.  I have tried to break it down.....RE: like we see in emails when someone has "replied" back to us.  TURN, which is the overall concept of salvation, tells me to “to go a different direction.” Or maybe thinking back to my childhood as in “its my turn” or “remember to let everyone have a turn, Chad”.  Remove the colon and RETURN just reminds me of a line I don’t want to stand in after Christmas!

No matter what spin you put on the word(s) it leads to the same concept: GIVE.  If you are GIVING you will be returning.  If you have received salvation, you do this by GIVING your life to Jesus and allow him to lead you a different direction.  GIVE someone else a turn.  Even in that long return line after Christmas you GIVE the item back (...and just hope they don’t require a receipt!).

Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” - Luke 17:11-19 (NIV)

In the above story, Jesus asks: “Where not all 10 healed?, Where are the other nine?” Don’t be like the other 9 in this story...be like the the foreigner, the Samaritan, the outcast of society, and humbly RETURN to GIVE praise God first!

Give.It.Back.

Lets make it a point to Re:Turn this Thanksgiving/Christmas season.  Return or give it back because He gave it all. Return to God what is His. Return to those around you the love, grace and mercy God has shown you.

Re:Turn.Until.He.Returns.

~CMF