Living With An Attitude Of Thanksgiving.

Living With An Attitude Of Thanksgiving.

Luke 17:12-19TPT

Analyzing data from over 3.7 million reviews for 13,400 hotels in 70 countries, Reward Experts has set out to answer where the grumpiest and happiest travelers in the world come from.

Grumpiest: 1. Spain 2. Ireland 3. Iceland 4. Italy

Happiest: 1. Russia 2. Serbia 3. Lebanon 4. Australia – USA gets a top 10.

A study done by UCLA Neuroscience dept. found out that the #1 choice that allowed people to live happy was to have a grateful/ thankful-attitude.

As you are continually thankful it releases—“2 happy chemicals.” (Serotonin & Dopamine) into our brains.

As a matter of interest that same study found that 1. labelling negative feelings, 2. making decisions when faced with choices, 3. helping others and 4. human touch also made people happier and able to go through hardship.

Luke 17:12-19TPT As he (Jesus) entered one village, ten men approached him, but they kept their distance, for they were lepers. 13 They shouted to him, “Mighty Lord, our wonderful Master! Won’t you have mercy on us and heal us?” 14 When Jesus stopped to look at them, he spoke these words: “Go to be examined by the Jewish priests.” They set off, and they were healed while walking along the way. 15 One of them, a Samaritan, when he discovered that he was completely healed, turned back to find Jesus, shouting out joyous praises and glorifying God. 16 When he found Jesus, he fell down at his feet and thanked him over and over, saying to him, “You are the Messiah.” 17 “So where are the other nine?” Jesus asked. “Weren’t there ten who were healed? 18 They all refused to return to give thanks and give glory to God except you, a foreigner from Samaria?”

19 Then Jesus said to the healed man lying at his feet, “Arise and go. It was your faith that brought you salvation and made you whole.”

Notice, the writer, Luke points out some powerful truths for his reader to hold onto.

10 Lepers, all 10 cried out for healing.

Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priest. As they obeyed their faith healed them.

Luke points out that one of leper came back to say, “Thank you for his healing!”

He was a Samaritan. This leper fell at the feet of Jesus with thanksgiving—He was grateful.

Jesus asked this leper where the other 9 lepers were?

Jesus says a word to this 1 leper, the other 9 lepers, didn’t get to hear, nor possibly receive. Jesus states, “Today, You salvation has come!”

I want you to hear the text once more read:

Luke 17:12-19TM It happened that as he made his way toward Jerusalem, he crossed over the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him. They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14-16 Taking a good look at them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” They went, and while still on their way, became clean. One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus’ feet, so grateful. He couldn’t thank him enough—and he was a Samaritan.

17-19 Jesus said, “Were not ten healed? Where are the nine? Can none be found to come back and give glory to God except this outsider?” Then he said to him, “Get up. On your way. Your faith has healed and saved you.”

How thankful are you? What makes you become un-thankful?

A man once stole, Rev. Matthew Henry’s wallet. In reflecting on the incident, Henry said, “1.) I am thankful that he never robbed me before. 2), I am thankful that although he took my wallet, he did not take my life. 3) Although he took all I had, it was not much. And 4), I am glad that it was I who was robbed, not I who did the robbing.”

Have you ever reflected on something seemingly bad and found the good? That’s what living with a spirit (attitude) of Thanksgiving through faith is all about.

Thankfulness—What does that mean? I think a good definition of thankfulness is being grateful.

Listen:

Grateful for food, water and shelter. Grateful you’ve received redemption, Grateful to walk in salvation.

Grateful for my church family, with meaningful fellowship.

Grateful to be alive, maybe grateful for a second, or maybe one-hundred chances.

Living with an attitude of Thanksgiving can mean many things; however, I want to give you a few of its meanings—

1. An Attitude of Thanksgiving is contagious, it's catching.

Thanksgiving is an attitude—It’s faith at its deepest.

Hebrew 11:6NKJV But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.