by Tim Hall

"I think a lot of people believe I'm going to fall flat on my face." The quote is from Christine Wren, taken from an interview in WomenSports magazine, October 1975. She was the second female umpire in professional baseball, and was vowing not to fail in her quest. It's a phrase often heard; it seems no one wants to fall flat on their faces.

Maybe we should reconsider. Such an action might lead to a commendation from the Lord.

Luke recorded the incident in which ten men afflicted with leprosy cried out to Jesus for cleansing. Jesus responded graciously, and sent them on their way to see the priest. As they left, they still bore the marks of their illness. Along the way, however, "they were cleansed" (Luke 17:14, New King James Version). The men must have been overjoyed; who wouldn't be delirious with happiness after being cured of so dreadful a disease?

Only one, however, returned to Jesus. Luke says of him, "Now one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan" (vv. 15,16). Look again, and fix the scene in your mind: The man was lying on the ground with his face in the sand at the feet of Jesus. Such was his expression of gratitude to the Lord.

Jesus commented first on the fact that nine lepers had not returned to give thanks. Then he spoke directly to the one who had not forgotten from whence his blessings came: "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well" (v. 19).

It is an act of faith to give thanks to God. Our neighbors attribute their bounty to the labor of their hands, or perhaps to "good fortune". Christ's disciples know better. We realize that all our good gifts come from the Father. We cannot continue on our way until we have taken time to give Him thanks.

And how shall that thanks be given? As a friend might casually thank his pal? Preposterous! This is the Lord of Glory! This is the One to Whom we owe our very lives. It is a privilege just to lie prostrate at His feet. Our humility is strong, but our sense of thanksgiving constrains us to come to Him. We must give Him thanks!

Yes, I need to learn to fall flat on my face, if it is the example of the Samaritan I have in mind. It shows the kind of response to blessings that the Lord seeks.