The Greatness Of Gratitude

Read: Luke 17:11-19

"One of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God." —Luke 17:15

Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem when ten lepers approached Him. Standing at a distance, as lepers were required to do, they called to Him: “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” (Luke 17:13).

When Jesus saw them, He commanded, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they journeyed, they were healed.

One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back, threw himself at Jesus’ feet, and thanked Him. “Where are the nine?” Jesus asked. Good question.

Jesus referred to the grateful man as a Samaritan-an outsider-perhaps to underscore His saying that “the sons of this world are more shrewd . . . than the sons of light” (16:8). The word translated “shrewd” means “thoughtful.” Sometimes people of the world have better manners than Jesus’ followers do.

In the busyness of life, we may forget to give thanks. Someone has done something for us-given a gift, performed a task, delivered a timely sermon, provided a word of counsel or comfort. But we fail to say thanks.

Has someone done something for you this week? Give that friend a call or send a thank-you note. After all, “Love has good manners” (1 Corinthians 13:5 Phillips). 

We thank You, Lord, for blessings

You give us on our way;

May we for these be grateful,

And praise You every day.  -Roworth

We don't need more to be thankful for-we just need to be more thankful.

by David H. Roper

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

“Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, nor with things too profound for me”

(Psalm 131:1, NKJV)

TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria

When things happen in your life that you didn’t plan, do you find yourself trying to reason it all out, or look for a “file,” so to speak, in your mind? What happens when you can’t find a “file” to put it in? What if you can’t make sense of it all?

Here’s the answer: Every one of us needs to create a file in our thinking called an “I Don’t Understand It” file. When things come up that don’t make sense and you can’t figure out, instead of getting frustrated or confused, simply put it in your “I Don’t Understand It” file and leave it alone. If you go through life trying to figure out why something bad happened, why it didn’t work out, why my child didn’t get healed, it’s going to cause you to be bitter. Part of trusting God means trusting Him when things don’t make sense, knowing that His plan is always for your good; knowing that He will reveal all things in His time — even if it means in eternity.

Here’s what I’ve learned. Don’t put a question mark where God has put a period. What the enemy meant for evil, God will ultimately use for your good. Keep moving forward because God loves you, God is for you, and He has a great plan for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAY

Precious Lord, today I surrender my questions, I surrender my past, I surrender my need to have all the answers and choose to trust that You have all the answers. I will wait on Your timing to reveal Your ways to me and choose to press forward into the destiny You have prepared for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.

— Joel & Victoria Osteen