The Grumbler's Guide to Giving ThanksSample

The Nine or the One?

Luke 17:11–19 shows two ways to respond to God. Before their healing, ten lepers have needs in their life. They have needs in their diseased bodies. Their uncleanness ostracized them from the community. They longed for the wholeness and new opportunities that healing might bring. They cry out to God from their desperation, weakness, and neediness. 

You and I have all kinds of needs in our life. And yet, despite how we ask God to intervene, when God answers, we often ignore Him. We take the blessings and run. We move on once we have in hand the thing we wanted. Or sometimes, we might say a quick, “thank you,” but we’re not all that grateful. We’re as guilty as the nine lepers who walk away.

But we also see a better way to live and respond. One man, a Samaritan, turns back, praises God with a loud voice, and falls to the ground in front of Jesus, giving him thanks. He doesn’t offer a handshake and a polite thank you to mind his manners. The gratitude inside of him gushes out in the way he gives thanks.

Thanksgiving in the New Testament is always directed to God. This man’s response shows us he receives more than physical healing. He sees that Jesus is God; the one he needs and longs for. Gratitude connects to worship. He gives thanks because Christ’s kind and powerful work of healing allows the man to see who Jesus is. The giving thanks connects to the man’s answered prayer, but it’s also part of his praise because it led to awe of and gratitude for Jesus. The man gladly receives a gift (healing) but it leads him to the giver (Jesus). 

This poignant story from Luke’s gospel teaches us there are two ways to respond to God: ingratitude that ignores Him or gratitude that worships Him. Thanksgiving to God is an invitation to know Him.

Do you want to be the nine or the one? Do you want to take things for granted or receive them with thanksgiving? 

What are things in your life you might take for granted that should be received with gratitude? Has God answered prayers which you quickly moved past? What are blessings from God you overlook every day? Continue your gratitude list by recording at least five things you’ve taken for granted.