Luke 17:11-19 (NIV) – “Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. Ten men who had leprosy met him as he was going into a village. They stood at a distance and loudly said, ‘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. When he saw he was healed, one of them 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? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?’ Then he said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.'”
As Thanksgiving approaches, we often reflect on the blessings we’ve received throughout the year. It’s a time to express gratitude for all God has done in our lives. But what does it mean to give thanks honestly? Let’s explore this through a powerful story of gratitude from the Gospel of Luke.
Devotion
In this passage from the book of Luke, we encounter a powerful story of gratitude that teaches us the true essence of thanksgiving. Jesus, on His way to Jerusalem, met ten individuals who had leprosy. Standing at a distance and desperately needing healing, these men cried out to Him: “Jesus, Master, pity us!” Moved by their plea, Jesus instructed them: “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” Following Jesus’ instructions, they headed toward the priest, but they realized their leprosy had disappeared, and they were as clean as the newborn babies.
Recognizing God’s Blessings
Now, the remarkable part of this story lies in what happens next. Among the ten men healed, only one—the Samaritan—returned to Jesus to say thank you. He recognized the incredible blessing he had received and couldn’t contain his gratitude. He praised God in a loud voice, threw himself at Jesus’ feet, and thanked Him. This act of returning to express gratitude was profound.
The Heart of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is not just about acknowledging our blessings; it’s about having a heart of gratitude. It’s about recognizing that every good and perfect gift comes from above (James 1:17) and responding with thankfulness. In returning to Jesus, the thankful pepper demonstrated a heart that understood the trustworthy source of his healing and restoration.
The Takeaway
The takeaway from Luke 17:11-19 is clear: genuine gratitude is not passive; it’s an active response to God’s goodness. It’s about returning to the scene of our blessings to say thank you. It’s acknowledging that God’s grace and love deserve our praise and gratitude.
