By Pastor Dr. Aggrey Soyekwo
Luke 17:15- 19 “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.”_ – NIV
They were ten lepers. Because, by law they were not required to come near healthy people, the called from a distance to Jesus to heal them. Jesus directed them to go and show themselves to the priest who was mandated to examine them for the healing and readmit them to normal society. As they went, they all got healed. But only one who was a Samaritan, came back praising God and to give thanks. Jesus expressed surprise why the nine didn’t come back to give thanks and glorify God. He expected them to come back.
God does so much to so many people whether they have prayed or not. God expects us to return and praise Him. But few return to testify and glorify God in thanksgiving. The rest take it for granted and just move on. A heart of ingratitude takes things for granted. It’s a deceptive mindset. How do you feel when you offer help to a needy person and all they do is walk away without a word? It makes the help, support or gift appear like an entitlement, and an insult to the giver.
Part of the reasons God does things to us is to meet our needs and to glorify His name. When we use His gifts to insult Him, promote our names, build territories and forget about the Giver, we displease Him. Even if one claims to have used their own strength and ability to achieve, still that strength and ability comes from God, including the life we have(Deut 8:18). Among His greatest gifts, is Jesus Who came to save us. Rejecting Jesus is ingratitude to God of the highest order! Accepting Him is appreciation of His great love. Let’s come to Him with thanksgiving in our hearts in praise and worship.
Psalm 100:4-5 “Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.”_Shalom children of God.