Greg Anderson, in Living Life on Purpose, tells a story about a man whose wife had left him. He was completely depressed. He had lost faith in himself, in other people, in God--he found no joy in living. One rainy morning this man went to a small neighborhood restaurant for breakfast. Although several people were at the diner, no one was speaking to anyone else. Our miserable friend hunched over the counter, stirring his coffee with a spoon.
In one of the small booths along the window was a young mother with a little girl. They had just been served their food when the little girl broke the sad silence by almost shouting, "Momma, why don't we say our prayers here?" The waitress who had just served their breakfast turned around and said, "Sure, honey, we pray here. Will you say the prayer for us?" And she turned and looked at the rest of the people in the restaurant and said, "Bow your heads." Surprisingly, one by one, the heads went down. The little girl then bowed her head, folded her hands, and said, "God is great, God is good, and we thank him for our food. Amen."
That prayer changed the entire atmosphere. People began to talk with one another. The waitress said, "We should do that every morning."
"All of a sudden," said our friend, "my whole frame of mind started to improve. From that little girl's example, I started to thank God for all that I did have and stop majoring in all that I didn't have. I started to be grateful."
We all understand and appreciate the importance of gratitude. How it can radically change relationships. In fact, one of the first things we were taught and that we teach our children is to express their gratitude. Someone gives them some candy and we say: "Now what do you say?" And the child learns from an early age the answer "Thank you." And certainly we all know as adults that we appreciate being thanked. Yet, when it comes to giving thanks to our heavenly father, we so often miss the mark.
“Gratitude” Luke 17:11-19
1. That’s what Leprosy did to the leper’s in our story they were completely distressed because of the laws of a leper.
• Those with leprosy were not allowed to buried with other people no matter your status. 23Uzziah rested with his fathers and was buried near them in a field for burial that belonged to the kings, for people said, "He had leprosy." And Jotham his son succeeded him as king.
• Leprosy was considered a judgment because of some sin Remember Miriam Moses sister she conspired against Moses
• They must live alone 45"The person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes,
• let his hair be unkempt,D cover the lower part of his face and cry out, `Unclean! Unclean!'
• 46As long as he has the infection he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp.
2. Theses leper’s had lost faith in themselves , Naaman was a commander, great man,
• highly regarded, valiant soldier, then the scriptures just simply lost all hope by saying, “ Now Naaman was commander of the army of the king of Aram. He was a great man in the sight of his master and highly regarded, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. He was a valiant soldier, but he had leprosy.
3. They lost faith in other people
• People were not allowed near 46As long as he has the infection he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp.
4. They probably lost faith in God--19Uzziah, who had a censer in his hand ready to burn incense, became angry. While he was raging at the priests in their presence before the incense altar in the LORD's temple, leprosyC broke out on his forehead. 20When Azariah the chief priest and all the other priests looked at him, they saw that he had leprosy on his forehead, so they hurried him out. Indeed, he himself was eager to leave, because the LORD had afflicted him. 21King Uzziah had leprosy until the day he died. He lived in a separate houseD --leprous, and excluded from the temple of the LORD.
5. Lepers found no joy in living
• The word leprocy means “to strike, to be smitten, or to receive a blow”
• Leper felt they were smitten, Leprosy was a fatal disease. Leprosy is often used as a picture of sin
6. Jesus turns life’s around as he did in this story today
• They all should have been screaming for joy and gratitude and thanksgiving
• How can we show our gratitude?
• the Samaritan bowed and gave thanks
• We can show our gratitude by praying
• We can show our gratitude by being faithful to the one who changed your circumstances worship regularly,
• We can show our gratitude by encouraging others
• We can show our gratitude by attending the house of worship
• We can show our gratitude by giving tithes and offerings
• Why do I need church? church can keep you married, it may keep us from becoming an adulterous person, it may keep you from dui, it may be the life line that saves your children or your life.
