Are You Losing Yourself?

There met Him ten men who were lepers...

Luke 17:12 NKJV

Luke records: "There met Him ten… lepers… they lifted up their voices and said, 'Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!'… He said to them, 'Go, show yourselves to the priests.' And… as they went, they were cleansed" (Luke 17:12-14 NKJV). Leprosy is a slow, painful death. First it attacks nerves in the hands, feet and face making them insensitive and susceptible to damage. Untreated leprosy ultimately results in disability including ulcers, physical deformities and damaged internal organs. Every day you lost a little more of yourself. Here are five helpful insights from this story:



1) If you feel like you're 'losing yourself,' turn to Jesus. He can restore what you've lost and give you back your peace and joy.



2) 'Lift up your voice.' Away with dignity and decorum! Desperate people do desperate things. God promises: 'You will… find me when you seek me with all your heart' (Jeremiah 29:13 NIV).



3) Whatever He tells you - do it. Don't lay down conditions to God. And don't seek an identical experience to somebody else. Jesus told the ten lepers, 'Go, show yourselves to the priests.' Why didn't He just speak to them or touch them like He did others? Don't question, obey! Faith doesn't demand explanations.



4) Take a step of faith. Luke records, "As they went, they were cleansed" (v14). You've got to walk it out; each step brings you one step closer. But nothing happens till you take that first step of faith.



5) Start praising God! Only one of the ten lepers returned to give thanks, and Jesus noticed it. You can go to God with confidence for your next answer, when you know you remembered to give Him thanks for your last one.