Introduction

Good morning, dear brothers and sisters. We’re here today with hearts full of hope and spirits ready to receive the word of God. We are here to listen, to learn, and to grow in our faith. We are here to find comfort in the words of the Lord and to seek His guidance in our lives.

G.K. Chesterton, a man of great wisdom and faith, once said, "When it comes to life the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude." Today, we will reflect on these words and how they relate to our understanding of God's grace.

We will also discuss the power of expressing gratitude, even in the midst of trials and tribulations. We will see how Jesus, our Lord and Savior, brings joy into our lives, a joy that justifies all our sufferings and struggles.

Let's turn to the book of Luke, chapter 17, verses 11 through 19:

"On the way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men with skin diseases approached him. Keeping their distance from him, they raised their voices and said, 'Jesus, Master, show us mercy!' When Jesus saw them, he said, 'Go, show yourselves to the priests.' As they left, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw that he had been healed, returned and praised God with a loud voice. He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus replied, 'Weren’t ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? No one returned to praise God except this foreigner?' Then Jesus said to him, 'Get up and go. Your faith has healed you.'"

Gratitude Grows in Grace

The Samaritan leper shows us the importance of recognizing God's grace and responding with gratitude. His actions remind us that gratitude is not just about saying "thank you." It's about acknowledging the source of our blessings. It's about recognizing that every good thing in our lives is a gift from God.

The first thing we can learn from the Samaritan leper is the importance of recognizing God's grace. This man, despite his circumstances, was able to see the grace of God in his life. He didn't take his healing for granted. He didn't just go on with his life as if nothing had happened. He recognized the gift he had received and he responded with gratitude.

The second thing we can learn from the Samaritan leper is the power of gratitude. This man didn't just feel grateful. He expressed his gratitude. He returned to Jesus, fell at His feet, and thanked Him. His gratitude was not just an emotion. It was an action. It was a response to the grace he had received.

The third thing we can learn from the Samaritan leper is the relationship between grace and gratitude. This man's gratitude was a response to the grace he had received. His gratitude grew out of his recognition of God's grace. This shows us that gratitude is not just a feeling. It's a response to grace. It's a recognition of the gifts we have received and a decision to express our thanks for those gifts.

The fourth thing we can learn from the Samaritan leper is the impact of gratitude on our relationship with God. This man's gratitude brought him into a closer relationship with Jesus. His gratitude was not just a response to a gift. It was a response to the Giver of the gift. His gratitude brought him into a closer relationship with the One who had healed him.

Thanking Through Trials

The Samaritan leper's gratitude is a testament to his faith ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO