Key Verse: "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went." - Hebrews 11:8 KJV
Sometimes God requires faith first, calling us to trust Him before we see the outcome. This principle is foundational in Scripture, as Hebrews 11:6 declares, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him".
In Luke 17, Jesus encounters ten lepers crying out for mercy. Their bodies were broken, scarred, and untouchable. Yet their voices carried hope, hope that Jesus would hear them.
“And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”
— Luke 17:13, KJV
What Jesus does next is surprising. He doesn’t lay hands on them. He doesn’t speak healing over them. He simply gives a command:
“Go shew yourselves unto the priests.”
— Luke 17:14a, KJV
At that moment, they were not healed. Their skin was still diseased. Their bodies still bore the evidence of leprosy. But the miracle did not depend on what they saw, only on whether they believed.
And then Scripture records a powerful truth:
“And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.”
— Luke 17:14b, KJV
Their healing came in the going! Not when:
- They cried out,
- Jesus spoke or
- They felt anything change.
But only as they obeyed in faith.
Faith Moves Before the Miracle
God is looking for people who trust Him enough to move before anything looks different. Faith is not just agreement, it is obedience in motion.
Hebrews tells us:
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
— Hebrews 11:1, KJV
Faith steps forward even when the path isn’t clear. Faith obeys even when the answer hasn’t arrived. Faith works because faith trusts the One who spoke.
One Returned, And One Was Made Whole
After their healing, only one came back to give thanks:
“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back… and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks…”
— Luke 17:15-16, KJV
Jesus asked:
“Where are the nine?”
— Luke 17:17, KJV
The one who returned not only received cleansing—he received something deeper:
“Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”
— Luke 17:19, KJV
Ten were healed, but only one was made whole. Gratitude finished what faith began.
God Still Honors Faith That Walks
Many people wait for God to move before they obey. But throughout Scripture, God moves as His people move:
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Peter walked on water as he stepped out.
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The Red Sea parted as Moses lifted his rod.
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The Jordan opened as the priests’ feet touched the water.
And in Luke 17, the lepers were healed as they walked in obedience.
Conclusion
Jesus Himself emphasized faith He said to a man seeking healing, "If
thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth." In the story of the woman with the issue of blood, Jesus told her, "Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole," demonstrating that faith precedes healing and restoration. When we are
called to act in faith, even when circumstances seem uncertain, we align
ourselves with God’s promises and open the door for His power to work.
As Paul wrote, "For we walk by faith, not by sight," reminding us that true trust in God often means stepping forward before we see the path ahead.
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