February 9, 2011
Read Luke 17:11-19
Luke 17:17-18
Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”
Lepers are considered unclean and therefore live in communities of their own. They have to first go to the temple and secure a certification that they are healed before they are allowed to live a normal life.
Ten were cured but only one returned to give praise. Why? Jesus was already marked as a ‘wanted’ man by the Jewish religious leaders. Perhaps the nine lepers did not want to risk their chance of being able to live normal lives by associating with him? Perhaps overjoyed by their being made whole, they had run home straight to their loved ones. Whatever the case, only one came back to Jesus.
Giving thanks and acknowledging God’s role and goodness is part of our calling as disciples. Giving God credit should be a Christian habit. It is an attitude of dependence on God. By being disciplined in thanksgiving, we remember that all that we have, all that we are, that that have happened and not happened – every moment, every sphere of our living; in everything – God has watched over us. That He is the Master and Lord of our lives.
The Bible exhorts us to develop this attitude, to “pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (I Thess 5:17-18)
One of the best ways to cultivate this discipline is to list all the blessings every day before you go to bed. Then thank Him for all these.
So go ahead and count your blessings; you will be amazed at what God has done.
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Haha this reminds me of the 40 day challenge you gave out at the pulpit one week: "For 40 days list 10 things that you are thankful for.."
ReplyDeleteBelieve it or not I did it! 40 days on my blog : )
D.
Good - i am glad you took the challenge. The older i am, the more i realize that it is these simple Christian disciplines that keep us growing and going in the Lord. :)
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