17 Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine–where are they?
18 “Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?”
19 And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:15-19.
The Westminister Larger Catechism begins as follows:
“Question 1: What is the chief and highest end of man?
Answer: Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.”
How do you glorify God?
How do you enjoy God?
The Samaritan in our story could answer these questions. He turned back. He praised God with a loud voice. He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet. He gave thanks to Jesus.
But, the other nine, sons of Israel we can infer from Jesus’ contrast of the Samaritan, maybe pious and maybe religious as far as their leprosy would let them, did not give glory to God as they should have done.
So, these questions remain for us, pious and religious folk. Do we glorify God as we should? Do we enjoy God as we should?
There is hope. Read a Psalm. For example, Psalm Chapter 18 is “A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD, who spoke to the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul” (NASV introduction). Psalm 18:28 states: “For You light my lamp; The LORD my God illumines my darkness.” Click here: Psalm 18 – Passage Lookup – New American Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com
David gives glory to God. David enjoys God. It is contagious. Look out. You might break out into a dance.
“Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.” Psalm 32:11.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 