The Story of the Ten Lepers
The scripture tells us the story of ten lepers who cried out to Jesus for mercy. When He saw them, He said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
But one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back. With a loud voice, he glorified God, fell down at Jesus' feet, and gave Him thanks. This man was a Samaritan, a foreigner.
Jesus responded, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:17-18).
These ten men stood at a distance, as the law required of lepers—they were stigmatized, isolated. They saw Jesus, they cried out for mercy, and mercy found them. He simply told them, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And on their way, they were healed.
Yet, only one turned back. Only one fell at the feet of Jesus and said, “Thank you.”
And Jesus asked, “Ten were cleansed. One returned. Where are the nine?”
This morning, Jesus is asking you and me the same question: “Where are the nine? Where is your thanksgiving?”
Today is a day of thanksgiving. God is asking, “Where is your gratitude? Are you bringing the rest instead of the best? Where is your thanksgiving?”
What is Thanksgiving?
Thanksgiving is the expression of gratitude to God Himself. It is the art of showing and telling God, “I am grateful.” You express it through your thanks, and you must thank Him and give. It’s not complete when you don’t give. So God asks, “Where is your thanksgiving?”
Why Must I Give Thanks to God?
1. Because He is Good.
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever” (Psalm 136:1). He is good, He is good, He is good. From January until now, He has kept you. He is a good God. You are sitting here because God is good. You can eat because God is good. You can travel because God is good. You can still think clearly because He is good. Everything in your life functions because He is good.
Even when that thing you’ve been praying for hasn’t come, He is good. Even when the storms of life rage around you, He is good. Even when things aren’t working, He is good. Even when you pray and pray and it seems your prayers hit the ceiling, God is good. That is the first reason you must thank Him.
2. Because He is Merciful.
He forgave me when everyone else thought I didn’t deserve it. When everyone labeled me a sinner, He forgave me. As Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” He is a merciful God. He said to the woman caught in adultery, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” Brothers and sisters, if God were to mark our iniquities, none of us could stand. We have obtained mercy.
3. Because He Gave His Life For Me.
He gave His life for me and to me. He didn’t just patch up my old ways; He gave Himself and reformed me, transformed me. He replaced my life with a brand new one. He took away the old man, messed up with guilt and sin, washed me with His blood, and gave me a life completely free from sin. “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15). That indescribable gift is that He came and died for you.
4. Because He Preserves My Life.
“O Lord, You have brought my soul up from the grave; You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit” (Psalm 30:3). Sing to the Lord, you saints of His, and give thanks. Some of you take the gift of life for granted. Some went to sleep last night and did not wake up. He preserves your life. Every time the enemy shot an arrow, the angels of the Lord shielded you. Even when they said you wouldn’t see today, here you are, bouncing in the Lord.
Don’t you understand the testimony? I have seen death face to face. God preserved life. For the gift of life alone, we must say, “Thank You.”
5. Because He Delivered Me From My Enemies.
“The Lord lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let the God of my salvation be exalted. It is God who avenges me” (Psalm 18:46-47). He delivered me from my enemies—those in my family, in my workplace, those who didn’t want me to live, who thought I shouldn’t even eat. He delivered me from known and unknown enemies. Someone shout, “Hallelujah!”
6. Because He Believed in Me When No One Else Did.
When no one else believed I had a calling, He believed in me. When everybody thought I came into ministry because my father was a pastor, He believed in me. Some of you, God believed in you even when you didn’t believe in yourself. That’s enough reason to give Him thanks.
7. Because He Healed Me and Kept Me in Health.
You were sick this year, and He healed you. He kept you in good health. “Who heals all your diseases” (Psalm 103:3).
8. Because He Helped Me.
It is not by power, nor by might, but by the Spirit of the Lord. “I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1-2). He shall not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. Some trust in chariots, some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. He is my help and my sustenance. He helped me this year.
9. Because He Provided For Me at Critical Times.
When everywhere looked dry, I don’t know about you, but this is my testimony: He provided for me. At critical times, He did not put me to shame. When school fees were due, He paid. When the needs of my family arose, He provided. Even when you were put to shame, when people mocked you, God showed up and said, “I AM.” Don’t take His provisions for granted. That provision you think is just “normal” is God’s grace. Beware lest you receive the blessing and forget to say, “Thank You, Lord.”
10. Because He is God.
Whether you thank Him or not, He is God. Whether you bring your praise or not, He is God, all by Himself. He is God from the beginning to the end. There is no place for argument. You are God.
You are the Alpha and Omega.
You are the Bread of Life.
You are the Creator.
You are the Defender.
You are Emmanuel.
You are the Faithful God.
You are the God of my salvation.
You are God all by Yourself. You don’t need a man’s validation. You are the Everlasting God, the Most High. He is God!
The Challenge
Your complaining doesn’t change who He is. He is God from the beginning to the end. That leaves no room for argument. He is God over your situation. He is God over your finances. He is God over your health. He is God over your family.
He is the Ever-living God. The Faithful God. The Creator of the greatest and the smallest. The Strongest of the strong. The Richest of the rich. The Wisest of the wise. What a mighty God we serve!
So I ask you again, with Jesus: “Where are the nine?” Let us be the one who turns back, falls at His feet, and gives thanks.
No comments:
Post a Comment