What Jesus said about ... giving thanks.
He was going into a village when he was met by ten men suffering from a dreaded skin-disease. They stood at a distance and shouted, “Jesus! Master! Take pity on us!” Jesus saw them and said to them, “Go and let the priests examine you.” On the way they were made clean. When one of them saw that he was healed, he came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself to the ground at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. Jesus said’ “There were ten men who were healed; where are the other nine? Why is this foreigner the only one who came back to give thanks to God?” And Jesus said to him, “Get up and go; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17: 11-19
Keeping our distance from people we are suspicious of is nothing new. In them days when Jesus walked this earth people with leprosy had to keep their distance from other people. People used to throw stones at them to keep them at bay. Did you know that Jesus had every right to throw stones at the leper to stop him coming near? In those days it was the done thing. You threw stones to warn the leper not to come too near you.
In this story, Jesus heals ten lepers and only one comes back to say thank you.
Why? What about the other nine? Were they bad people, evil and selfish?
I'd like to think that they were so overcome with joy at being healed that they ran to their family to meet them and hug them and rejoin society once again. They were just absent-minded. So overcome with joy that they forgot to say thank you.
A bit like us really! How often do we forget to say thank you when someone does something nice to us? Does that mean we are evil? Selfish? Bad people? No... just absent-minded.
When is the last time you said thank you to God for all the things He has done for you and continues to do/ How about thanking Jesus too. Now there's a thought ...
"In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18
NOTE: This post is the LAST of a series of articles entitled "What Jesus
said about ..." If you click the label "What Jesus said" at the end of
the article you'll be able to access all the articles.
All the
articles in this series will feature in a book of devotionals I am
currently writing. More news on publication date here soon.
Thank you for your support and encouragement. God bless you all.
NOTE: This post is the LAST of a series of articles entitled "What Jesus said about ..." If you click the label "What Jesus said" at the end of the article you'll be able to access all the articles.
ReplyDeleteAll the articles in this series will feature in a book of devotionals I am currently writing. More news on publication date here soon.
Thank you for your support and encouragement. God bless you all.
...my mother taught me that the most important words were please and thank you!
ReplyDeleteTrue. My Dad taught me the two most important words which will open doors for me are Pull and Push.
DeleteGod bless, Tom.
“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.”
ReplyDelete——Meister Eckhart
Amen.
DeleteGod bless, CM.
I too was taught to say thank you to others. But to God I do
ReplyDeletekeep a daily grateful or thankful list every day.
There's so much to be thankful for, Sandie. Praise the Lord.
DeleteGod bless always.
I start every day by thanking God!!
ReplyDeleteGood start of the day, K.
DeleteGod bless.
Giving thanks to God has become such a "feel good" part of my day. I try not to expect blessings but rather, acknowledge and appreciate.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Victor, for this series.
Thank you, Mevely. I have enjoyed this series and the discussions it created. Many thanx for taking part. God bless you and your family always.
DeleteI thank God every day when I wake up and go to bed. Thanks for this series, Victor.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bill. I am so glad you enjoyed this series. I shall include all articles in my next book due soon.
DeleteGod bless, my friend.
To combat the absent mindedness, it's good to have a regular time to give thanks during prayer.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the series, I found it quite informative and helpful.
Thank you so much, Mimi, for your support of my writings.
DeleteGod bless you and yours always.
Hi Victor, nice post! I thank God, and our Lord Jesus each time I read the scriptures every morning, and many other times, as they are the Love of my life as I journey on in this world. God bless you for sharing your thoughts on this.
ReplyDeleteThank you Brenda for your visits here and taking the time to comment. Much appreciated. God bless you.
DeleteVictor nos dias atuais acontecem milagres e as pessoas não agradecem a graça recebida.Temos que ser gratos sempre, abraços.
ReplyDeleteTRANSLATION: Victor, in the days when miracles happen, people are not grateful for the grace received. We must always be grateful, hugs.
DeleteYes you are right, Lucimar da Silva Moreira. We should always say thank you to God.
God bless.