Reflections
Ten lepers

Let me ask you a question: How much do you value yourself? How much is your life worth to you? To your family? To the people you work and play with? Indeed, how do you value yourself? In financial terms? Or in 'doing' terms?

If it's in financial terms, how do you assess that value? Is it by the amount of life assurance you carry? Are you worth more to your family dead than alive? Or are you valued by your potential? Let's see now, I'm fifty odd years old now and, by human standards, I've got about 15 years of working time left - God willing, so my earning potential over that period is probably in the region of say a quarter of a million pounds or so.

If you value yourself by what you do, then the sky's the limit, as long as you have your health and the willingness to be involved in things.

As Christians, we believe that God loved each of us so much that he allowed his son to die for us. That makes you and me pretty special and valuable, doesn't it? Indeed, being loved is what gives us value. Likewise, it's what we give to others that creates their value.

You see, I think we measure our value, our worth, by what we give back to God. If Jesus gave his life for yours, then what you give to Jesus in return is the value that you place on your life. Jesus told Simon the Pharisee as much when he said: "Those who have been forgiven much, love much." In other words, the more we value our own lives or the lives of those whom we love, the greater the love we show to God for what we he has given us.

The money we place in the collection should be a reflection of the value we place on our lives? Does it really reflect the depth of our gratitude to God not only for our own lives but also for the life of a husband or wife, or a child? Should the amount of time that we give to God reflect our gratitude to God for sending his son to be part of our personal history? Does our willingness to forgive reflect the value of the forgiveness offered to us? "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us." These are not accusations, but merely questions that all people need to reflect upon.

Luke's story of the ten lepers shows the value that they placed upon their lives. One came back because he recognised how he had been raised from the death of physical, social and religious isolation, and been brought back as a full member of God's community. He recognised that this was new life, resurrection life. He was able to see for himself just how putrid and diseased life can really get on the inside, and how ugly human beings can be on the outside too. My friends, this man was so grateful that his life had been given back to him, that he came back to thank God and to praise him; in doing so, He was not only healed physically, but also gained salvation for his soul. He had been cleansed on the inside as well as the outside!

My friends, many Christians throughout the world place their lives on the line each and every day because they are willing to proclaim the gospel fearlessly, despite much persecution. They take risks to share their faith on the streets, among their friends and workmates. They risk ridicule and rejection. They are prepared to put hands into pocket for those less fortunate. Why, if not as a sign of their gratitude to God for all that he has done and continues to do? In the West, we do not have to risk anything other than temporary embarrassment and a few minutes of worship each week. Is this how much we value ourselves?

But God goes much further: he repays our gratitude and honours our faithfulness by making us clean and acceptable, just as he did with the lepers; but He is so gracious and generous that He offers to us something even more wonderful - salvation, eternal life. Is He not, therefore, indeed worthy of our honour and praise. Amen.

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