An Attitude of Gratitude Pt. 1

"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.” Luke 17:11-19

Recently on my drive home from work I was convicted by the Lord about how unthankful I am. I've got a great job, wonderful family, health, wealth, a good place to live, beautiful surroundings, friends... all a man could ask for. But recently I'd been focusing on the negative things in my life. It's something very easily fallen into in this life, unfortunately. Ingratitude is part of our fallen human condition.

I was also convicted in that I'd judged others in how "unthankful" they'd been in response to "ministry" I'd provided. How conceited! As we see from our passage today, even in the face of a full blown healing from the Son of God, nine out of ten people were unthankful. Should we expect any less? Rather we should be grateful that we get to share in our Lord's ministry to others. 

Recently my seven year old asked me which things in life are a "privilege" (he likes to ask deep philosophical questions like that). I had to think hard before responding, "well if you look at it one way, everything in our life is a privilege, down to the air we breathe, because life is a gift from God" (my actual response was a little more mumbling and faltering than that). 

This devotion may be a little late for our national holiday of "Thanksgiving", but it's never too late to cultivate an "attitude of gratitude". It may not be easy to be thankful when things aren't going well, but it is God's will for us: "...in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18.