"Genuine Thanksgiving"(Luke 17:11-19)

 

Luke 17:11-19

 

Once a year, we make an effort to give thanks during Thanksgiving.  Yet, we are called to thankful always. It is easy to forget to be thankful, or better not to be genuinely thankful for what we receive. We can fall into the trap of believing that our hard work and efforts have made us successful. We can effortlessly forget how much God has done for us. The lepers show us how we can be genuinely thankful to God.

 

The first step of genuine thanksgiving is to have faith. The lepers had enough faith that they sought out Jesus because they believed Jesus would heal them.

 

And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”

Luke 17:12-13 ESV

 

Leprosy was treated as a curse from God. Lepers were not allowed to interact with the rest of society, and they were outcasts, who had to remain hidden. To mingle with those who were not lepers could be met with violence including stoning. The result was that the lepers could only live outside the city away hidden from society.

 

When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice;

Luke 17:14-15 ESV

 

Jesus tells them to see the priest because only the priest could declare them clean. In fact, the priests were the ones who determined who was clean and who had leprosy. It was only the priests who could give a clean bill of health to anyone they deemed leprous. However, the priests lived in the city, and the only way for the lepers to be declared clean was to see the priests in the city. These men could be stoned. Once again, the lepers needed to show faith.

 

We see that before Jesus healed them, He told the lepers to go to see the priests. The lepers were still plagued by leprosy while they went to the priests. It was while walking to the priests, they were healed. God gives the directions, but we still must take those first steps before the miraculous power of God can work. All the lepers are healed after their small act of faith.

 

The second step to genuine faith is harder because it involves humility.

 

and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”

Luke 17:16, 18 ESV

 

It is only one leper who understands how much God has given him and how little he deserves  any mercy. Admitting that God is great, and His power can save us is something all people can do. The ten understood that God is all powerful, but it was only one who realized he did not deserve the healing. He realized that his faith was important, but ultimately, he did not deserve the healing. He could not control the healing, and he certainly could not manifest the healing by himself. He could only receive the healing after asking for it. It can be humbling when you realize just how much God loves you by giving you something beyond your control.

 

It is only when we realize the gap between us and God that we can truly have genuine thankful heart. We may know about who God is and what Jesus has done for us, but unless we understand the gap, we will not be truly grateful.

 

The third step in genuine thankfulness is to respond.

 

Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.

Luke 17:15-16 ESV

 

This is how we should act. Responding to God's grace is done by glorifying God. It does not necessarily about giving gifts and tithes, it happens when we demonstrate our love to God in the world. We keep His commandments and love others. It will never repay what God has given us, but like the small steps of faith, our small daily actions can glorify God.