Can you think of a time when you gave a gift that went unappreciated? Maybe you worked so hard to find the perfect gift for your child, only to find that they really wanted something else. Maybe you gave a gift to a friend you are certain they did not like. Giving a gift that is not appreciated is disappointing, isn’t it? When we spend time and money thinking about what gift to give, only to find out that the gift is not appreciated, we feel hurt. I wonder how often we forget to acknowledge God’s gifts and say “thank you.” You see, God is the ultimate gift giver, but we often need a reminder to show gratitude for the many things God has done for us.
Luke 17 teaches a poignant lesson about gratitude. In this section of Scripture, we find 10 men who had leprosy. All of them came to Jesus and called to Him, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” (verse 13). They wanted to be healed of their disease. In response, Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priests. This was because when someone had leprosy or any similar disease, the priest was the one who declared him or her clean and allowed to be let back into the community. With diseases such as leprosy, people were called to distance themselves from their community. The Bible teaches that as the men were on their way to the priest, they noticed they were cured. Of the 10 men, only one of them went back to Jesus to thank Him for what He had done. One man went back to thank Him. What makes this story so ironic? He was a Samaritan, one who was considered an outcast. He was not even a proper Jew. Yet this man had the right response, full of gratitude.
The 9 men healed by Jesus yet never looked back to thank Him missed a huge opportunity to show gratitude. I am quick to judge them for not even turning around to thank Jesus for the incredible healing He provided, yet I, too, have been guilty of taking the gifts of God without giving Him gratitude in return. I am also quick to forget to show gratitude. Maybe you can relate.
My friend, it is time that we stop, recognize the blessings that God has given us, and thank Him. It is time that we express gratitude. May you and I, with the joy and vigor of the grateful Samaritan man, never cease to turn and thank God for all He has done.
Write out a prayer of thanksgiving to God today. Thank Him for His goodness to you. Thank Him for all of the gifts He has given you. Praise Him for being good and for being God. As you write out your prayer, your gratitude will overflow as you remember everything God has done for you.
"One day Jesus said to his disciples, "There will always be temptations to sin, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting! 2 It would be better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around your neck than to cause one of these little ones to fall into sin. 3 So watch yourselves!
"If another believer sins, rebuke that person; then if there is repentance, forgive. 4 Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive."
5 The apostles said to the Lord, "Show us how to increase our faith."
6 The Lord answered, "If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'May you be uprooted and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you!
7 "When a servant comes in from plowing or taking care of sheep, does his master say, 'Come in and eat with me'? 8 No, he says, 'Prepare my meal, put on your apron, and serve me while I eat. Then you can eat later.' 9 And does the master thank the servant for doing what he was told to do? Of course not. 10 In the same way, when you obey me you should say, 'We are unworthy servants who have simply done our duty.'"
11 As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. 12 As he entered a village there, ten men with leprosy stood at a distance, 13 crying out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"
14 He looked at them and said, "Go show yourselves to the priests."[b] And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy.
15 One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, "Praise God!" 16 He fell to the ground at Jesus' feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan."
