Ungrateful Series

This lowly Samaritan, the “half breed” that was despised by Jews from Jerusalem began to praise God and cry out. He found Jesus, and fell on his face at His feet.

His gratitude and thanksgiving became a holy act of worship. He received Jesus for who He is, and at that moment his soul was changed. His body was clean but now His Spirit was forever connected with the Son of God who had come to save Him.

Jesus was amazed. He said “where are the nine, were not nine healed?”

Then he looked at this sobbing man who lay face down in worship before Him and said:

"Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well." So for this man, his new life and healing were not just physical benefits; he was changed spiritually.

It was now no longer a random thing, ten guys that just happened to be in the right place at the right time; who just happened to be able to catch the attention of this Prophet and Rabbi, and who were fortunate enough to get a second chance at life. This man wasn’t “lucky.”

This man was chosen, set apart, given a gift he didn’t deserve and could not earn. His response was to worship the One who had made him whole.

I like to think about what the rest of his life may have been like. He’d been a walking dead man just waiting for the disease to eat into his vital organs to put him out of misery. Yet now, every day he woke up I can hear him thanking God and praising Him. Perhaps he went back to spend time listening to Jesus teach while he was still with the people.

He lived and he died. We never knew his name, but his life still speaks today and he lives in the presence of his Savior this day as we speak. When we read of what goes on in his presence, we realize this man is still thanking Him in real time today!

His faith had made him well both physically and spiritually, and the object of His faith saved Him.

So what do we take away? Where do we go on Monday Morning?

• Gratitude is a lifestyle, not a thank you note or a one-time comment just to satisfy politeness!

• Gratitude requires that we stop and consider: we need someone to thank, and we need to thank someone.

• Gratitude is due to those whom God has used in your life-thank them as you thank God

• Gratitude is not a rote command or ritual; it’s the natural beat of a thankful heart, it is expressed in practical daily life

• The one thing we can do here is to simply stop and consider: where would I be? How have I been blessed?

• Once we’ve truly considered, our worship will increase our faith, and God’s blessing will pour upon us. It will lead us to the feet of Christ

• Gratitude is one of your soul’s deepest needs.

Ephesians 2:4-8

(4) But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us,

(5) even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved--

(6) and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,