The Origin of a Grateful Heart
Tim Melton
Luke 17:11-19
In Luke 17:11-19 we find this story of Jesus and the 10 lepers.
11 On the way to Jerusalem he (Jesus) was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, ''Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.'' 14 When he saw them he said to them, ''Go and show yourselves to the priests.'' And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, ''Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?'' 19 And he said to him, ''Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.''
With which of these lepers can you best relate? The one who was so appreciative that His need had been met, or the ones who received the gift and just went on their merry way? Most of us can relate to both. At times we are thankful and at other times giving thanks does not even come to mind. We only speculate about the reasons that the other 9 lepers did not return to thank Jesus, but we find in this one Samaritan this equation, Great Need + Great Gift = Great Gratitude.
We are called to be thankful but this is not our natural response. A lack of gratitude was first seen in the garden of Eden, back in Genesis 3. God had given Adam and Eve everything and yet they were not grateful. They still wanted more and because of this they chose to disobey and eat the forbidden fruit. We, too, are often guilty of discontentment and lacking gratitude.
Today´s culture makes it even worse. The media takes that root of sinfulness and selfishness that is found in mankind and seeks to amplify our sense of entitlement. It convinces us that we have the right to an easier life, a more comfo ...
Tim Melton
Luke 17:11-19
In Luke 17:11-19 we find this story of Jesus and the 10 lepers.
11 On the way to Jerusalem he (Jesus) was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13 and lifted up their voices, saying, ''Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.'' 14 When he saw them he said to them, ''Go and show yourselves to the priests.'' And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, ''Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?'' 19 And he said to him, ''Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.''
With which of these lepers can you best relate? The one who was so appreciative that His need had been met, or the ones who received the gift and just went on their merry way? Most of us can relate to both. At times we are thankful and at other times giving thanks does not even come to mind. We only speculate about the reasons that the other 9 lepers did not return to thank Jesus, but we find in this one Samaritan this equation, Great Need + Great Gift = Great Gratitude.
We are called to be thankful but this is not our natural response. A lack of gratitude was first seen in the garden of Eden, back in Genesis 3. God had given Adam and Eve everything and yet they were not grateful. They still wanted more and because of this they chose to disobey and eat the forbidden fruit. We, too, are often guilty of discontentment and lacking gratitude.
Today´s culture makes it even worse. The media takes that root of sinfulness and selfishness that is found in mankind and seeks to amplify our sense of entitlement. It convinces us that we have the right to an easier life, a more comfo ...
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