Counting Spots

The last two days I've been studying the story of the ten lepers (found in Luke 17).  It's a familiar story but the study book brought out some new thoughts.


First of all, because Jesus made a point to call the one who returned to give thanks "a foreigner", we can probably safely assume that there were at least some Jews in the remaining nine.  Geographically, this was very likely since this scene took place in a border village between Samaria and Galilee.  But these ten had been drawn together because of their similarity - not their differences - they all had leprosy.  Which made them outcasts of their societies.


Leprosy is often compared to sin.  And I think it can be applied here.  Sin is sin.  A sinner is a sinner.  Sin separates us from God.  Here is an excerpt from my study that grabbed my attention: "Lost is lost.  [But hallelujah] - FOUND is FOUND!  All of us in Christ have received the free gift of salvation in one way only: grace.  When we judge a brother's or sister's sin as so much worse than our own, we are like lepers counting spots." [emphasis mine]


How many times have I found myself doing this? "I know I did this wrong, but look at her!  Her sin is far greater!"  Counting spots.  But my mind goes back to the old song:


Sin can never enter there,
Sin can never enter there;
So if at the judgment bar
Sinful spots your soul shall mar,
You can never enter there.


As with leprosy, there is no natural cure, only God can cure leprosy.  And only His blood can cleanse sin.  I want to be like the "foreigner" and give thanks for His grace and cleansing.  Unworthy tho I am, He gave His life to save me.  Thank you, Jesus!


And the next time I'm tempted to "count spots" - let me be reminded that a spot is a spot.  Sin is sin.  Lost is lost.  And found is found.


One last thought from my study book...could it be that the one who returned to give thanks was the one with the most spots?  (I'll be pondering that one for awhile!)


**Study book notes from the Jesus the One and Only.

Sunday afternoon ~ family time!

I'm BACK!!! :) Today's photo: gorgeous rice fields!!