The Beauty of a Thankful Heart
Tim Melton
Luke 17:11-19
A person who is thankful looks at life differently. Matthew Henry, the famous theological scholar, was once attacked by thieves and robbed of his bag that he was carrying. He wrote these words in his diary:
''Let me be thankful first, because I was never robbed before; second, because, although they took my purse, they did not take my life; third, because, although they took all that I had, it was not that much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who was doing the robbing.''
That is a refreshing perspective, but would we be able to look at the situation like that if we were robbed?
Would you say that you are a thankful person? Are you more drawn to thankfulness or complaining? Do you view yourself more as one who is a victim or one who is blessed? Would you be characterized more by contentment or covetousness?
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.''
If we are honest with ourselves, with which of these lepers can we best relate? The one who was so thankful 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 ti ...
Tim Melton
Luke 17:11-19
A person who is thankful looks at life differently. Matthew Henry, the famous theological scholar, was once attacked by thieves and robbed of his bag that he was carrying. He wrote these words in his diary:
''Let me be thankful first, because I was never robbed before; second, because, although they took my purse, they did not take my life; third, because, although they took all that I had, it was not that much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who was doing the robbing.''
That is a refreshing perspective, but would we be able to look at the situation like that if we were robbed?
Would you say that you are a thankful person? Are you more drawn to thankfulness or complaining? Do you view yourself more as one who is a victim or one who is blessed? Would you be characterized more by contentment or covetousness?
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.''
If we are honest with ourselves, with which of these lepers can we best relate? The one who was so thankful 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 ti ...
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