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Attitude of Gratitude

"As he [Jesus] was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, 'Jesus, Master, have pity on us!' When he saw them, he said, 'Go, show yourselves to the priests.' And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, 'Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?'"¹
 
Leprosy in Bible times was considered a very terrible disease. I am not sure what the equivalent would be to it today, but it was a skin disease that, once someone caught it, it was considered incurable and people with it were banned from society. When these men asked Jesus to have pity on them, they were probably not expecting to be healed, but may have suspected something when Jesus told them to go and present themselves before the priest. The priest was the only person who could grant a clean bill of health and allow the healed persons to enter society again. What is interesting to note is that the healing for these men took place as they "went". Their healing took place, all of a sudden, as these men began to obey Jesus. I can only imagine the delightful surprise that these men must have felt as they began to see their comrades faces clear up from the disease! Even with such a tangible miracle that took place in today's passage, still only one man returned to humbly thank Jesus.  

How many times in our lives do we ask God for something, but then when it comes, we forget to show gratitude and appreciation for His answer? All of a sudden we become ungrateful and take for granted the blessings simply because we got what we wanted or feel "deserving" of it. Or if we don't get what we want at the moment, we fail to thank God for all that he has ALREADY given us! God's grace in our lives is abundant and we would be foolish to take it for granted. And let us not forget that God's blessing in our lives will come as we "go" forward in obedience to His will.  

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, please give me a grateful heart and a thankful spirit, so that I will always give and express credit where credit is due, thanks where thanks is due, and appreciation where appreciation is due. And above all, give me a thankful heart for the countless blessings You have given so freely to me and especially for Your gift of salvation and a home in Heaven to be with You forever. Help me to so live that my life will be a living expression of gratitude for all that You have done for me. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

1. Luke 17:12-17 (NIV).
  
Today's Encounter was written by: Crystal B.