THE BENEFITS OF BEING THANKFUL (PART 1)
TEXT:
"And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger."
(Luke 17 verses 17 to 18, King James Version).
In Luke 17 verses 12 to 18, by His spoken Word, the Lord Jesus healed ten lepers and asked them to go show themselves to the priests as the law of Moses had commanded to be done. As they left his presence, they discovered that they were healed, but only one among the ten returned to thank the Lord. According to the account, "when he saw that he was healed, (he) turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan" (Luke 17 verses 15 to 16, emphasis added).
The Scripture reading for today reveals the Lord's mind towards thanksgiving. The Bible says,
"And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger."
Firstly, from this account, we know that God loves thanksgiving. Jesus asked, "Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?" Some of us do not see the need to be grateful for the good acts of God or men toward us in life. By Jesus' response saying, "Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?”, we come to understand that God hates ingratitude.
Secondly, we come to know in addition that giving thanks to God is glorifying Him. Jesus' response was, "There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger." Through thanksgiving, you acknowledge God as the Source of your blessings, and that all was by His ability and not yours. Thanksgiving as an attitude serves to exclude pride. It's an act of humility towards God.
It's interesting that the one that returned to give thanks was a stranger, a Samaritan. In Jesus' days, the animosity that existed between the Jews and the Samaritans made them not to go near one another (see John 4 verse 9). But Jesus, being truly God, is no respecter of persons (Acts 10 verse 34). It's equally interesting that the rest that were healed, the other nine, who didn't return to give thanks for being healed were Jews. What's the bottom line here?
Don’t be too familiar with God. Learn to be grateful to Him always. Sometimes, as God's children, we categorize certain things from Him as "little" or as our entitlement or right. That's the wrong attitude. Perhaps, these were the reasons behind the unthankful attitude of the other nine lepers who didn't return to thank Jesus for healing them.
Understand that no work of God is little because every of His work is wrought by a Great and Mighty Hand. Tender mercies or God's kindness and constant love were shown to Joseph in very little ways while he was in prison in Egypt. They reminded him that God was with him, that God had him in view and had not forgotten him. Those tender mercies kept him until God's Word came to pass at the appropriate time (Psalms 105 verses 17 to 22). Tender mercies are not only evidence that God is with us, but like first fruits, they are evidence that a full testimony or blessing is on the way. All that was required of Joseph was patience. I counsel that you never despise God's tender mercies shown to you in life. The Bible says, in Psalms 119 verse 156, "Great are thy tender mercies, O LORD:"
From today, cultivate a thankful heart for every blessing that comes your way, whether large or small. This will serve to earmark you as one that is grateful to your benefactor, though it be God or man. Now, we know that keeping an attitude of gratitude towards the Lord brings Him glory and as we shall see in subsequent parts in this series, it serves to excite or provoke gracious responses from Him.
PRAYER:
Lord, may I never be ungrateful for your kindness and constant love towards me, in Jesus name.