THANKSGIVING IN OUR HEARTS
Luke 17:11-19 While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; and they raised their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" When He saw them, He said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they were going, they were cleansed. Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine--where are they? "Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?" And He said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has made you well."
Jesus tells the lepers to go to the priests. The priests were the local health department of the day and every leper was on file with their local priest. They believe and go in response to His word which was in response to their faith in approaching Him. This is their once-in-a-lifetime encounter with the Son of God and they have enough faith to leave without being healed! Unbelief or doubt would have argued with Jesus.
Questions: 1.We call him Lord and we call to him for mercy but his response is often not what we expect. Share with your table about a time in your life when you had to step out in faith even though your prayer wasn t answered yet. How did you feel? Did the experience draw you closer to God? Why or why not? 2. What lesson might we glean from the timing of Jesus command and the leper s healing?
The one leper realizes he is healed. The greek word for healed in that verse means to be made whole. He is in awe of the one who healed him and repents. Leprosy is a metaphor for sin and our separation from God. Many experience the mercies of God but not all meet with God Himself! This guy is not bashful. He praises God loudly as he falls in worship before Jesus. Giving thanks is the human end of the grace of God. The christian has said thank you to the incredible grace of God. The unbeliever says no thanks at the heart of sin is unthankfulness.
Questions: 1. What does the action of the one leper teach us about thankfulness? 2. Share with the table an event within the last year for which you are grateful to God? What did you learn about the character of God in that circumstance? What did you learn about yourself? 3. Philippians 4:6-7 Why is it important to be thankful in our requests to God before our prayers have been answered? Do you believe that God answers prayers offered without thanksgiving? Why or why not?
Romans 1:20-21 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Let us never take the mercies of God for granted and lose the wonder of God! When we receive a blessing from God, the blessing is a doorway to meet with God himself in a unique way and deepen our relationship with him. Will we seize that opportunity?
Psalm 100 Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before Him with joyful singing. Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name. For the LORD is good; His lovingkindness is everlasting And His faithfulness to all generations.
Thanksgiving Quotes: A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues. Cicero Every virtue divorced from thankfulness is maimed and limps along the spiritual road. Henry Ward Beecher We ought to give thanks for all fortune: if it is good, because it is good, if bad because it works in us patience, humility and the contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country. C. S. Lewis Thanksgiving, to be truly thanksgiving, is first thanks, then giving. Unknown O Thou Who has given so much, mercifully grant us one more thing: a grateful heart. George Herbert