As Jesus journeyed through a certain village, He encountered ten men who were lepers. They cried out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” The Lord instructed them to go and show themselves to the priest (a requirement of the Law of Moses) and as they went, they were cleansed of the leprosy. One of the men, realizing that he had been healed, excitedly returns to Jesus, glorifies God and gives Jesus thanks for the wonderful gift of healing. Oh, by the way, the man was a Samaritan, one least likely to express gratitude to a Jewish man. Jesus asked, “Weren’t there ten of you? Where are the other nine? Could they not return to give thanks just as this man who is a foreigner?” Jesus bids the healed man farewell, telling him that his faith had made him well (Luke 17:11-19).
In this season of thanksgiving, many of us will make a special effort to consider the countless ways that the Lord has blessed us. But how much do we express our gratitude for such during the rest of the year? As the story implies, are we so busy enjoying the blessings of life that we only pause to give thanks ten percent of the time? Christians, above all other people should be the most thankful, not only for the physical blessings but the spiritual as well. We have received forgiveness by His mercy and salvation by His grace, and should be eternally thankful.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18)
~Via Maud church of Christ
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