Gratefulness vs. Ungratefulness

GOOD MORNING!

Jesus answered and said, “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?” Luke 17:17-18

Throughout the week we have seen that gratitude is an important Biblical principle. We see this when Jesus was approached by ten lepers. Leprosy at that time was an incurable disease, and if you had leprosy, you knew you were going to die. It was only a matter of time. Not only that, you would be ostracized by the community. In fact, if you were approaching someone, you had to yell out, “Unclean! Unclean!” No one would want to be around you. We pick up the story in Luke’s gospel: “Now it happened as He [Jesus] went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’” [17:11–13 NKJV]. These men came to Jesus and asked Him to heal them. And He did. Then Luke tells us, “And one of them, 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. And he was a Samaritan” [verses 15–16 NKJV]. But Jesus said, “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?” [verses 17–18 NKJV].

There is no greater difference between people than between grateful and ungrateful people. One returned and gave thanks, the nine others received their miracle, but they seemed to have taken Jesus for granted. Like the nine lepers who thought nothing more of what they had received from Jesus, how often do we give no grateful thought to all we have received from Jesus?

Gratefulness enhances our relationships, with God and others. Gratefulness is a mindful awareness of the blessing of God's grace upon our lives. Grateful people tend to be more empathetic and forgiving of others.

There are 86,400 seconds in a day, will you use one of them to give thanks?

Today, remember to be grateful for all that God has done for you. Be specific about thanking Him for the many ways He has blessed you. "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever" [Psalm 118:1].

Much love and care, Pastor Pat

Greece Assembly of God

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