Introduction

Good morning, family. It's a beautiful day. A day full of promise. A day full of hope. A day to reflect on the grace and blessings we've received. We are here together, under the same roof, sharing the same faith, the same hope, and the same love. It's a wonderful thing, isn't it?

As we gather here today, let's remember the words of G.K. Chesterton, who once said, "When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude." A simple statement, yet it holds a wealth of wisdom.

Today, we are going to talk about grace, faith, and blessings. We will look at how these three elements intertwine in our lives, how they shape our attitudes and actions, and how they bring us closer to our Creator.

Before we begin, let's turn our attention to the Gospel of Luke, specifically chapter 17, verses 11-19:

"Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, '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.

One of them, when he saw he was healed, 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.'"

Grace Gives Birth to Gratitude

In the passage we read, we see a beautiful illustration of grace. Jesus, moved by compassion, heals ten lepers. Leprosy, in those days, was a dreaded disease. It was not just a physical affliction, but a social one too. Lepers were outcasts, shunned by society, and forced to live in isolation. Yet, Jesus, in His infinite mercy, heals them. This is grace - unmerited favor. It's receiving something we don't deserve.

Now, let's consider the response of the lepers. They were overjoyed, no doubt. They were healed! They could return to their families, their communities. They could live normal lives again. But only one of them, a Samaritan, returned to thank Jesus. This man recognized the grace he had received and it filled his heart with gratitude.

This brings us to the first aspect of our discussion. Grace, when truly understood and received, gives birth to gratitude. When we realize how much we've been given, how much we've been forgiven, how much we've been loved, it fills our hearts with thankfulness. It's like a wellspring of joy that bubbles up from within us, overflowing in praises and thanksgiving to God.

The second aspect we need to consider is the transformative power of grace. The Samaritan leper was not just physically healed, he was transformed. His encounter with Jesus changed him. He was not just a recipient of grace, he became a conduit of it. His gratitude was not just an emotion, it was an action. He returned to Jesus, praised God, and thanked Him. His gratitude was a response to grace, a manifestation of it.

The third aspect is the universality of grace. Jesus didn't just heal the Jewish lepers, He healed the Samaritan too. In those days, Jews and Samaritans didn't associate with each other. They were considered enemies. Yet, Jesus showed grace to the Samaritan. This shows us that God's grace is not limited by race, nationality, or social status. It's available to all who believe in Him.

The fourth and final aspect is the necessity of grace. Without grace, we are like the lepers - isolated, rejected, and hopeless. But with grace, we are healed, restored, and made whole. Grace is not just a nice idea, it's a necessity. It's the only thing that can truly heal us, transform us, and fill us with gratitude.

Faith Fosters Thankfulness

As we continue to reflect on the scripture from Luke, we see that the Samaritan leper, upon realizing he was healed, immediately returned to Jesus ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO