Thankfulness

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God

Many have said if there is one thing lacking in the narcissistic culture we live in, it is THANKFULNESS/THANKSGIVING. A Christ follower knows it is essential to the abundant life. I have a theory about it. Thankfulness moves our focus beyond the blessings to the Source of the blessing.

There is a story in the Bible about this. It involved 10 lepers. When they encountered Jesus, they pleaded with Him to show mercy. Jesus simply sent them to the Temple priest for the regular oblation for cleansing. As they were on their way to the Temple, they were healed. We don’t know how long these men had suffered with leprosy, but for whatever period it was, they couldn’t enter their own homes or village. They couldn’t work or interact with their families. Can you imagine their joy when they realized they were whole! But alas, only one of the lepers, a Samaritan, returned to thank Jesus. Only one looked beyond the blessing to the source of the blessing.

You may not have been healed of leprosy, but as a Christ follower you have been healed—made whole—by the Savior. Is it possible that we too often rush off to enjoy our blessing without looking to the Giver of the blessing?

Let’s start, from this day forward, to saturate our worship, prayer, service, and yes, our daily life with thanksgiving to God.

And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. (Luke 17:15-16)