By Eric Jinkwen

Luke 17:17-18; “Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”

Gratitude is a noble attitude demonstrated by those who understand that no act of kindness or goodness should be taken for granted. Humans are naturally selfish.

To find someone who can give you $5,000 or $10,000 is an exploit and you must not take it for granted. But unfortunately, many people are very ungrateful today. In fact the Bible says, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy.”
(2 Timothy 3:1‭-‬2). So, one major character of men in our time is ingratitude.

Jesus Christ was interrupted by ten lepers who stood from affar because of their condition. They were yelling at Jesus, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us”. They were requesting to be healed of their leprosy. They recognized Him as the Messiah, the Master who could help them out of their pitiful condition. He simply gave an instruction, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed on their way. Oh glory.

As others where jubilating and celebrating their healing, they did not think of coming back to gi e thanks to Christ. These where Jews who took for granted that Jesus healed them. They never showed up again. Their familiarity with the name of God and their religion, their filiation to Abraham made them ungrateful to the promises and blessings of God. Is that not what many Christians have become today? We pastors are victims of this.

You pray for someone and when things are fine, they disappear. They don’t return to give thanks, even to God who answered the prayers The only time you see them of hear from them is when there is another trouble to pray about. Don’t be ungrateful.
But, one of them a Samaritan, a foreigner to the covenant and to the commonwealth of Isreal, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving Him thanks. Hallelujah!!!

He saw himself undeserving, unqualified and favored of God. He came to give thanks. The amazement and the question of Jesus Christ in v17 and 18 reveal that He was expecting all the nine others to do same. Sadly, they did not come. The Lord, blessed again the one who came to give thanks and sent him home.

Read also: Gratitude makes the difference

We must learn to appreciate God for all that He does for us. Gratitude is an attitude that leads to altitude. If you learn to appreciate God for small things, you prepare the way for bigger blessings. Let me end with this, “Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me, and prepares his way so that I will show God’s salvation to him.”
(Psalms 50:23).
Don’t fail to give God thanks during this season.

How can you express your Gratitude to God?

1 Chronicles16:8-9, “Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works!”

Remembering or recalling the great things the Lord has done for us should be the life style of every child of God. “A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues.” –Cicero
Thanksgiving to God is not optional. Jesus expected the nine other lepers to return and give thanks.
How do we do it?

1. We can thank God through songs. The Bible says, “On that day David first delivered this psalm into the hand of Asaph and his brethren, to thank the Lord.” (1 Chronicles 16: 7). There are many other Hymns that were written for Thanksgiving.
   
2. We can thank God through testimonies, V8&9 explain, “Oh, give thanks to the Lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works!”
   We are to make known the deeds of God to the people and talk of of all His wondrous works. This includes also living a live that testifies of God’s love and grace upon us. Being grateful, joyful and holy.
   
3. We can thank God through giving of a Sacrificial offering of appreciation to God. 1 Chronicles 16: 29 continues, “Give to the Lord the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!” Giving an offering is not only worship to God, but it is a sacrifice that honors Him (Ps 50:23).
   
4. We can also thank God in prayers. The Bible teaches us that our prayer sessions should always include elements of thanksgiving to God. For example, Col 4: 2; “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.”
   Thanksgiving is an important element of our prayer life. A thankful heart is a fertile ground for answered prayers.
   
   Listen to these authors, “A grateful thought toward heaven is of itself a prayer.” -Lessing
   “The worship most acceptable to God comes from a thankful and cheerful heart.”–Plutarch
   A prayer session without thanksgiving is like a check without signature You also read Phil 4: 6.
   Walton once said, “God has two dwellings; one in heaven, and the other in meek and thankful hearts.”
   Let your heart be a thankful heart unto God. Hallelujah!

Read also: Giving thanks to God always