Why Be Thankful? Luke 17:11-19
One of my favorite holidays is Thanksgiving with friends and family. It’s the one day that most Americans take time to celebrate around a table, give thanks to God, and spend time catching up with each other. It’s also the day that many Americans see as “turkey day” without any thoughts of thanksgiving to God.
Throughout the scriptures, in the old and new testaments, we see verses of giving thanks to God for His loving kindness, tender mercies, His goodness, His faithfulness, and awesome grace. (Psalms 106:1;I Thess. 5:18). King David in the book of Psalms wrote songs and verses giving thanks and praises to God. Although he had many moral failures (committed adultery with Bathsheba and was responsible for the death of her husband), he was repentant and asked God for forgiveness. He had a very close relationship with God and through his lineage with Bathsheba, the Messiah would be born.
In the book of Luke, there was an occasion when Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem near the border of Samaria and Galilee. He came across ten lepers who cried out to Him and asked Him to have mercy on them. Jesus responded and told them to go and show themselves to the priest. Why would Jesus respond this way?
During Jesus’ time on earth, leprosy was an incurable contagious disease. The disease is caused by a bacterial infection that grows slowly and affects the nerves, skin, and mucous membranes. Untreated the disease will eat away at the skin, cause blindness, loss of fingers and other extremities of the body, and eventual death. Because the disease was contagious those that had leprosy had to be separated from their families and the general public. They formed their own small communities like this group of ten lepers. According to Biblical law, only the priest could declare a person clean after inspection and that person would be allowed back into society. Today, leprosy is curable with antibiotics and drug therapy. It is not a common disease and most new cases are found in India.
The ten lepers had heard of Jesus and His healing and miraculous works. They did not come close to Him because it was against their laws to do so. Even from a distance they cried out to Jesus to have mercy on them. When Jesus told them to go and show themselves to the priest, they did as He said. They had faith for their healing and were obedient to do as Jesus instructed. They didn’t wait to see if they were healed first, they followed Jesus’ instructions. As they were on their way to see the priest, they were cleansed of the disease. One of the lepers when he saw he was healed, turned back and with a loud voice glorified God. He went back to Jesus, came close to Him and knelt by His feet, and gave Him thanks. He was a Samaritan and not a Jew.
Jesus asked, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?” Jesus commented that the only one that returned to give glory to God was this stranger (Samaritan). Jesus said to the Samaritan, “Arise, go your way: your faith has made you whole.” He was already cleansed of the disease but if he had any missing fingers or disfigurement, his body was made whole.
Let’s remember to give praise and give thanks to God, not only for the miraculous, but for our lives, our breath, our loved ones, and for saving us. Having an attitude of gratitude is a lifestyle choice that comes with blessings. Even when things are challenging, thank God for His strength that helps us go through the challenges, and thank Him for the positive expectations that we have for the answer or outcome. When we give praise and thanks to God it is a form of worship. Hebrews 13:15 “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Give God thanks when you make your requests to Him.” (Phil. 4:6)
Lastly, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (I Thess. 5:16-18). Give thanks as you go through your circumstances, not for the circumstances. In other words, if you are sick, thank God for healing not for the sickness. Thank God for the positive expectation you have and not the negative circumstances you are experiencing. When you pray, believe you receive. (Matt. 21:22)
Not subscribed? Subscribe below so you never miss a newsletter!
Personal Development Tip of the week:
Did you know that neuroscience proves that you can’t feel grateful and sad at the same time? Maybe that seems too good to be true. Well, let’s try it and find out for ourselves.
I want you to take a few minutes and focus solely on things you can be grateful for. Deliberately focus on only these things. It can be family, your relationship with God and what He has done for you, your career, etc. Take time and do this now. Did you take a few minutes to do this? If not, why not? Seriously, take a few minutes to do this especially if you are someone who experiences a lot of sadness and negative emotions in your life.
If you chose to do this simple exercise let me ask you, how do you feel? Probably better because when we begin to focus our minds on something specific we being to feel it more in our lives. Remember like I have said in the past, whatever you focus on you feel. Put another way, when you start to change what you say, you will start to change what you see in your life. Working on your mind every day will greatly benefit how you feel because it is so strong and can be developed.
Practicing gratitude can be performed in many ways, prayer being one of my favorites, however, you can start a gratitude journal which I also have done for many years. Find the practice that will work for you and commit to doing it each day.
If for some reason you have made it this far and still don’t buy this whole gratitude thing let me leave you with one last thing to think on. If we are to agree that what we think about and speak about each day affects how we feel wouldn’t changing what we think about and speak change how we feel?
Let’s start taking responsibility for what we think so we can shift our focus off our burdens to God’s great blessings.
Question for you? How often do you practice gratitude in your life and how has it impacted your life?
Prayer for the week
I will constantly give You thanks, Lord Jesus, for all that You have done for me. I will speak of Your goodness and grace and share my testimony with others. Thank You for loving me first and for giving me the gift of everlasting life in Jesus name, Amen.
PS. If you would like to support us consider checking out www.litwithprayer.com and picking up our devotional prayer journal to our new pieces of Christian-based Jewelry.
Do you know Jesus?
If you have never asked Jesus to be the leader of your life and forgive you of all your sins, this is the right time to act. Pray this simple prayer and believe it in your heart: “Dear God, Your Word says that You loved me so much that You sent Your Son Jesus to die on the cross for me. I want to be saved and have all my sins forgiven, past, present, and future. Forgive me now as I receive Jesus as my personal Lord and Savior. You promised me salvation and an abundant life. I believe and receive Your free gift. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and help me grow stronger in You each day, in Jesus name I pray, Amen.” (John 3:16)
The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.
Why Be Thankful?