Luke 17  Ten men, stricken with the horrible disease of leprosy, cry out for Jesus to show them mercy, and He does.  He instructs them to go to the priest as the Law commands, and as they go, they are miraculously healed.  One man, a Samaritan, turns back to give thanks and to give glory to God.
Jesus points out that the other 9 were also cleansed, but did not turn back to give God the glory.  To the Samaritan He says, " Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well."  

Did the others not have faith?  They were healed.. but were they "made well"?  To be made well - sozo - safe, delivered, healed, preservered- saved.  Over and over again, Jesus links faith and wellness.  To the woman who touched His garment, to the blind man who asked for sight, and to the woman who washed His feet, and to this leper.. Jesus says, " ... your faith has made you well."

Faith - as small as a mustard seed;  faith - a conviction... a reliance.. a persuasion.. to trust in Jesus; is necessary to make us well, to save us, preserve us, deliver us, and heal us.   The Samaritan man had that kind of faith.   He asked and received; then he gave thanks and worshiped God.


Do we have faith?  Are we like the 9... we cry out for help.  We receive help.. but we go on with life as if nothing significant has happened?  Do we take Jesus for granted? Do we use Him like a wishing star.. and give no glory to God?  Faith goes beyond asking.  It goes beyond even receiving what we asked for.  Faith, the writer of Hebrews said, " .. is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." ( 11:1)  And, he goes on to say, " And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."  ( v6).  Jesus , the " author and perfecter of faith"  is our Example.. and we are commanded to "lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus..." ( Hebrews 12: 1-2)

Galations 2:8-9  " For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast."

We are saved through faith.
We are called to walk by faith.
We live by faith.
We are made whole, preserved, and complete - in faith.

So Father in heaven, the Giver of faith.. we find ourselves asking, like the disciples, "Increase our faith".  And yes, we hear the Words of our Savior... "if you had faith like a mustard seed..."  Like the leper who turned back.. we give thanks to You !  We give You glory!  You, who began a good work in us.. will complete it too.  We will trust in You alone.  For we want to live by faith and please You.  Help us to do this constantly and consistently in this new year, we pray.  In Jesus' name. Amen.