Faith for the Week: The One Who Turned Back
The Bridge - Faith for the Week is a moment to pause, reflect, and receive encouragement grounded in God’s Word for the days ahead.
Scripture (ASV)
“…And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, with a loud voice glorifying God; and he fell upon his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.” — Luke 17:12-19 (ASV)
Reflection
Ten men were healed. They all received the same thing. They all went in the same direction. Nine kept walking. One turned back.
The nine weren’t being dramatic about it. They did exactly what Jesus told them to do: go show yourselves to the priests. The healing was on its way to becoming official, documented, part of the new life ahead of them. They had somewhere to go.
The one who turned back was a Samaritan. He had the most reason to feel out of place at a Jewish priest’s door. He turned back anyway, fell on his face, and gave thanks out loud.
Jesus doesn’t record what happened to the nine. He records the one who came back. And the question He asks stays in the passage without an answer: where are the nine?
Application
Think of something you asked God for that He gave you. Something you prayed about, something you needed. Did you go back and thank Him specifically for that thing? If not, turn back now.
Prayer
Father, I don’t want to be one of the nine who kept walking. Thank You for what You gave me when I asked. Thank You for what You gave me before I thought to ask. Help me turn back and say it out loud. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Closing
What gets remembered in this story is the one who came back.
