Luke 17:15-19, "One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him-and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?' Then He said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.'"

Think

We all have room for improvement when it comes to expressing our thankfulness to God. In fact, we can often become so excited about receiving a blessing that we forget to thank the Blessor! Jesus had just healed 10 lepers. No longer considered societal outcasts, they would be able to return to their homes, families, jobs, and everything they once knew. By showing themselves to the priests, they would once again be considered "clean". But even perfect physical health without spiritual transformation leads to death! Only one of the lepers returned to Jesus to express his thankfulness. And only the one was truly healed. He recognized that Almighty God had healed him. Therefore, he returned to express his thankfulness through both his words and actions. He praised God with a loud voice and threw himself at Jesus' feet. He got it! His faith made him well. Not just "clean," but truly healed by the grace of God. Only God knows if the other nine were truly thankful. But thankfulness without an outward expression through words and actions is really ungratefulness. So, don't just think "thanks"; remember to be loud and proud in public and in private about all the great things God has done, is doing, and will do in your life. The One who paid the ultimate price to reconcile us to the Father deserves our praise, because without Him we would still be lost!Give thanks to God for things you usually forget to thank Him for through both your words and actions.

 

Act

Give thanks to God for things you usually forget to thank Him for through both your words and actions.

 

Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your forgiveness, guidance, healing, love, mercy, and grace! And thank You, Jesus, for living a perfect life, dying sacrificially, and rising bodily forever defeating death, that I too may live with you in eternity. In Your name I pray, Amen.