Luke 17:11-19 King James Version (KJV)11 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.Your faith [your personal trust in Me and your confidence in God’s power] has restored you to health.”
“And Jesus answering said, Were not the ten cleansed? but where are the nine? Were there none found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger”?
Sadness seems to have been the dominant emotion as Jesus contemplated the ingratitude of the nine. How could men be so thoughtless and unappreciative of God’s favours? Why, it may be asked, did the nine not return?
1. One waited to see if the cure was real.
2. One waited to see if it would last.
3. One said he would see Jesus later.
4. One decided that he had never had leprosy.
5. One said he would have gotten well anyway.
6. One gave the glory to the priests.
7. One said, O well, Jesus didn’t really DO anything.
8. One said, just any rabbi could have done it.
9. One said, “I was already much improved.”
How often do the love and life of the pardoned sinner fail to respond to the grace that saved him! These lepers had come to Jesus in the extremity of a most loathsome and pitiful disease; they pleaded with him to help, and he healed them; but nine of them never even said, “Thanks.”
3 Forms of ingratitude:
(1) the ingratitude of children to their parents,
(2) the ingratitude toward our fellow men, and
(3) man’s ingratitude toward God.
Except this stranger … Significant words indeed are these. Which meant the other 9 were not Samaritans (and ought to know better).
How often do we – Children of God take for granted the blessing, favour, mercy and grace of our Father and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ? Or forget to give thanks for the help that the Holy Spirit daily provides us with.
John 14:26 Amplified Bible (AMP) 26 But the Helper (Comforter, Advocate, Intercessor—Counsellor, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will help you remember everything that I have told you.
This very word, “Stranger (foreigner)” is found on the limestone block from the temple of Israel in Jerusalem. It was placed in the court of the Gentiles next to the Court of the Women. “Let no foreigner enter,” it said. Alas, a foreigner might not be permitted to enter the Jewish part of the temple (upon penalty of death); but one “foreigner,” or “stranger,” found grace with the Lord of the temple! Twice in this episode, the worship of the healed Samaritan, was called “giving God the glory” (Luke 17:15,18); and as it was Jesus whom he worshipped. We must understand that Jesus is God in human form; worshipping Jesus is worshipping God.
1 John 5:7 King James Version (KJV)7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
John 1:1-14 New International Version (NIV) The Word Became Flesh 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
What is true gratitude?
Dictionary definition: “Gratitude is a thankful appreciation for what an individual receives, whether tangible or intangible. With gratitude, people acknowledge the goodness in their lives”.
Not sure if the above definition really sums it up. So, let’s try to define just what gratitude is in our experience. I have found it helpful to think of some things that might be thought of as gratitude, but really are not. For example, gratitude is more than the (auto, conditioned response) saying, “Thank you” when someone gives you something. Gratitude is more than an action which we decide to do by an act of will power. You can say the words, “thank you” when there is no gratitude in your heart at all. Custom may dictate that you say the words when you don’t really appreciate what has been done for you. What it takes to turn the words, “thank you” into gratitude is the real genuine feeling of appreciation.
Gratitude is a feeling that arises uncoerced in the heart. It cannot be willed into existence directly if it is not there. If you give your son (or nephew…) a necktie or a pair of socks for Christmas, he may dutifully say, “Thank you daddy or mummy (or aunt or uncle),” but the spontaneous, heartfelt feeling of gratitude will probably not be there, like it would be if you gave him a new electronic game or hockey stick which he had always wanted. Gratitude is a feeling not an act of will power. And it is a good feeling. When it rises in our hearts, we like it. It is part of happiness/joy, not misery.
Gratitude is a form of delight. But gratitude is more than delighting in a gift. It is more than feeling happy that you got something you wanted. Say, you gave the electronic game to him, he might just rip open the package, say, “Wow,” and walk away and start bragging how much better his game is than his neighbour’s. He might not even give a thought to the kindness you did for him in giving him the game. He delights in getting the gift, but he is still ungrateful because his delight is not directed to you the giver.
So, gratitude is more than delighting in a gift. It is a feeling of appreciation and happiness directed toward a person for giving you something good.
Gratitude is the rejoicing that comes not merely from the gift, but from the act of giving. Gratitude is a genuine, vibrant, and happy feeling you have about a giver because of his giving something good to you or doing something good for you.
The more undeserving a gift (Grace – unmerited favour) is the more intense should the gratitude that flows from the heart.
The greatest gratitude that every living soul owes God and which many demonstrate ingratitude towards is the gift of His Dear Son, Jesus Christ:
John 3:16 Amplified Bible (AMP)16 “For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He[even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Saviour] shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Romans 8:32 Amplified Bible (AMP)32 He who did not spare [even] His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?The joy that the giving of God supplies should last through the waiting for the answer to the next want or need, and such is the experience of Divine everlasting joy; a joyous moment does not end before God activates another explosion of joy.
Aside the varied many blessings that we can count and will keeping on counting because God is gracious…Count your blessings name them one by one Count your blessings see what God has done. Count your blessings name them one by one And it would surprise you what the Lord has done.
There is a song about gratitude that I believe must remain on the lips everyone who has been washed and cleansed by the blood of Jesus, saved and delivered from the kingdom of darkness and translated into the kingdom of light, a song that must always flow from a grateful heart:
“Forever Grateful” by Juanita Bynum
You did not wait for me to draw nigh to You
But You clothed Yourself in frail humanity
You did not wait for me to cry out to You
But You let me hear Your voice calling me
And I’m forever grateful, Lord, to You
And I’m forever grateful for the cross
And I’m forever grateful to You
That You came to seek and save the lost
That You came to seek and save the lost.
Peradventure you have read the blog to this point and you do not yet know God through Christ Jesus; but you have the desire to, so you can truly demonstrate due gratitude to God Almighty? I would encourage you to please read on:
John 3:16 (AMP)
“For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Saviour] shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Acts 4:12 (AMP)
12 And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved [for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation].”
Romans 10:9-10 (AMP)
9 because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Saviour] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation.
Do you want to accept Christ into your heart now? Pray this prayer:
Father I come to you in the name of Jesus. I know that I’m a sinner and cannot save myself. But Jesus died for me, He shed His blood that I might be saved, today I accept Jesus as my personal Lord and saviour, forgive me all my sins, wash me with Your blood and make me whole. I forsake the devil, the world and all sinful habits, I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord. Father I thank You because You have saved me in Jesus name. Amen.
If you have said that prayer, I congratulate you “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”(Ephesians 2:8-9) and I want to encourage to please visit www.lifeoasisinternationalchurch.org to access very important resources critical for your growth and development in your new life in Christ Jesus. And it is vital that you start attending a Bible believing Church…Should you be led to join the Dream Centre Church which has a mandate from God “to help men achieve their God given dreams”; Please ensure you complete the online First-timers-form: http://www.lifeoasisinternationalchurch.org with your details and an ordained Pastor would contact you really soon.
You are welcome to the family of God!
The Message Bearer
Cornelius Bella
corneliusbella 