I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. Psalms 9:1
The story of Jesus healing the ten lepers is quite a picture of gratefulness. Jesus, on His way to Jerusalem, passes through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. He enters a village where He was met by ten lepers who asked Jesus to heal them. Jesus tells them to go show themselves to the priests and as they went they were cleansed. The Bible says that 1 of them, a samaritan, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God and fell down on his face at His feet giving Him thanks.
Jesus asks the question, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" Jesus says to him, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well."
Thankfulness is rooted in gratitude. It is interesting that the word "gratitude" has the very word "attitude" in it. Attitude is a posture, a perspective. You would not be truly thankful if you were not first truly grateful. When I think of the amazing grace I've received through Jesus Christ this is reason enough for me to be grateful and give thanks. It is the foundation of my gratitude and thankfulness, knowing He's paid my debt and I didn't get what I deserved, knowing everything I will experience or walk through, whether good, incredible, bad, challenging or difficult, will now flow through His amazing Love and Grace,
The Samaritan who returned to give God glory and say thank you, had a different attitude than the other nine. Does your thankfulness just say you are "relieved", or does it say you are "grateful?" It wasn't that the Samaritan received more than the other nine, they were all healed. Could it be the others just felt glad to be “relieved” from the disease, then took off and went their own way? Who knows? Did they just forget to say thank you because they were so excited? Possibly. But the Samaritans attitude of gratitude postured him in humility to pause and remember someone gave him something he couldn't give himself, someone did something for him that they didn't have to do. When we’re truly grateful we’ll remember, we’ll return and say thank you, when we”re truly thankful we’ll give the Glory to God.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Father I thank you for Your amazing Grace! I’m forever grateful for all you’ve done for me and all you’re still doing in and through my life. I thank you that Your will is being accomplished concerning my life. Thank You for loving me with an everlasting love. Help me, by Your Grace, to live life truly grateful and thankful, not just relieved. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen
I want to hear your thoughts- please comment below! Take a moment today and share 5 things you are thankful for.
🍁HAPPY THANKSGIVING🍁
