I am convinced that a grateful heart is the most sacred and precious gift God gives us. In the story of the 10 lepers only 1 came back to thank Jesus after they were healed. I’m wondering if they were so elated they forgot. But if you had leprosy and were healed wouldn’t you find Jesus and thank him? These were my thoughts today as I read the story.
As Jesus was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice: ” Jesus, master, have pity on us!”. When he saw hem he said: ” Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. 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 a foreigner?” (Luke 17:11-19)
I don’t know about you but this story gets to me. Would I have returned? Would I have given praise to God for what He had done?
I started a journal of thanksgiving the first of the year. I only did it one week. it’s easy to ask God for things, but harder to remember to thank Him for both answered and unanswered prayers. Why praise and thank Him? Because He is faithful and good and deserves our praise and thanks.
All we have to offer Him is our praise….. and He deserves all the glory! Take a moment and listen to this magnificent song titled Gratitude. It is my new favorite.
