Elohim July 2015 | Page 20

I know what it’s like to celebrate someone’s wedding when you’re still single. Jesus encountered the contrast of thankfulness vs. ignorance when He healed the ten lepers: I know what it’s like to see Valentine’s Day come and go without so much as one little note or card. It happened that as He made His way toward Jerusalem, He crossed over the border between Samaria and Galilee. As He entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met Him. They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” Taking a good look at them, He said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” They went, and while still on their way, became clean. One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He knelt at Jesus’ feet, so grateful. He couldn’t thank Him enough and he was a Samaritan. Jesus said, “Were not ten healed? Where are the nine? Can none be found to come back and give glory to God except this outsider?” Then He said to him, “Get up. On your way. Your faith has healed and saved you.” - Luke 17:11-19 I know what it’s like to see your high school friend having their third baby already, and you haven’t had a date in a year. I know what it’s like. It sucks. The loneliness is overwhelming at times, and you begin to wonder, “Is it worth it?” Is it worth the waiting, the soul-searching, the seemingly blind trust that God will eventually bring someone along who will match you in your pursuit of life and godliness? In all the waiting, impatience grows in the lonely heart, and with questions swirling around regarding the value of such waiting, a cruc