The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power. (Psalm 97).
I always try to make excuses for the nine lepers who did not come back to thank Jesus. I like to think that when their excitement died down, and they realised what Jesus had done for them, they gave thanks for their deliverance.
I am, of course, making excuses for myself, for all the unacknowledged blessings in my life, but at least the passing years have one particular advantage. We can look back and see more clearly the loving hand of God in our lives. Not just the obvious blessings, but the blessings in disguise. (I remember a lady praying for a blessing, “not in disguise!”)
We can see what we thought at the time was a sorrow become a great joy and source of blessings. We can see God permits an evil so that a greater good may come. Then, we can truly realise that disappointments are indeed His Appointments.
Finally, we can say with the psalmist: “How can I repay the Lord for his goodness to me? A thanksgiving sacrifice I will raise, I will call on the Lord’s name.” (Psalm 116).
