Christ Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem when ten lepers asked him to heal them. He told them to go and show themselves to the priests, and as they were on their way to do this, they were healed. But of the ten, only one returned to thank Jesus for his healing. The Master poignantly asked, "Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?" Luke 17:17.
I've thought about this account in Luke's Gospel from time to time in relation to the Wednesday evening testimony meetings in Churches of Christ, Scientist. Most of the people attending these meetings have felt the healing power of God through the study and application of Christian Science. So if there are periods of silence, it is not always a lack of gratitude that keeps people from testifying. Some may say, "I'm afraid" or "I'm not prepared." "I don't express myself very well." "Others may be critical of what I say." "My contribution isn't very important." None of these thoughts about ourselves are true, because they could not possibly come from a God who is Love and who knows only good about His children. He does not recognize, condone, or suggest such negative thoughts. And we can free ourselves from their supposed influence as we see them for what they are: false suggestions, no part of God and man.
Perhaps fear has kept you seated as it once did me. Before testimony meetings I would mentally prepare and rehearse testimonies, but week after week I failed to give them. Slowly but surely my gratitude for God's goodness and all that Christian Science had done for me superseded my fear. As I took a stand mentally and literally, giving testimonies became easier each time.
