Day 7: Healing Gratitude...Say It Loud, Say It Clear
Scripture Reading: Luke 17:11-15
We talked in chapter 3 about Jesus' healing of the ten lepers, but notice a few more things that distinguished the one who returned to say "Thank you" to Jesus:
First, he came loudly. This was no private matter, nor was it a quiet one-on-one conversation with Jesus off in the corner somewhere. "One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice" (Luke 17:15). This man just couldn't contain his gratitude. This occasion called for an unrestrained, extreme, public display of thanks.
Oh, for such a grateful spirit as we see in this man. May the volume of our gratitude be cranked high not only when we're asking for help (as all ten of the lepers had done) but also when acknowledging our Helper. May our giving of thanks be as obvious and expressive as our sharing of needs!
I think of my dad, whose frequent response I mentioned earlier--"I'm doing better than I deserve." I think of my dear friend "Mom Johnson," now in heaven after living a long earthly life of ninety-two years, who would often say, "I have more blessings than problems." I think of the most buoyant, approachable people I know--the ones I love spending time with, who bless and enrich my life whenever I am around them. It's not that they have the fewest problems, or the cleanest histories, or the most obvious reasons for happiness. They're simply the ones who are "loudest" about giving thanks, who are not always reciting a long list of problems, complaints, and criticisms but who choose to be grateful. They know they've already been given more than life could ever cost them. The Lord keeps them full despite the world's best attempts at depleting them. And they don't mind telling you about it.
I want to be one of those people, don't you?
Second, he came close. We never get any closer to Jesus than when we come with humble gratitude. The ten lepers who first met Jesus "stood at a distance" (v. 12)--lepers were ceremonially defiled and were not allowed to come close to those who were "clean." The healed leper who "fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks" (v. 16) was the only one of the ten who ever got close to Jesus. Gratitude places us in close proximity to Christ, where we experience the fullness of His redeeming power and enjoy the blessing of His presence.
Third, he came from a distance. "He was a Samaritan" (v. 16). Unlike some of us who can't remember a time when we weren't at least somewhat aware of God's presence and power, this man had never known the true God until Jesus came into his world and transformed his life. After being separated from Jesus by a religious, cultural, and physical gulf, he loved what he saw in Jesus--up close and personal. Do you love what you see in Jesus/? Gratitude will help bridge the distance and draw you close to Jesus.
Think today, not only about what you have to be grateful for, but about the blessings we receive when we take time to stop and express our gratitude to God and others.
GRATITUDE IN ACTION
Look for an opportunity today to thank the Lord for what He has done in your life--aloud, and in the presence of others. And don't whisper your prayer--speak up! You may feel a bit awkward if you're not accustomed to praise Him in this way. But think about how you express yourself when you are enthused or earnest about something in another realm of your life--say, being surprised with an engagement ring, receiving a promotion at work, or your kid's soccer game.
The point isn't to try to "stir up" vociferous praise--we don't have to speak loudly for God to hear us. But it makes sense that a true awareness of our hopeless, helpless condition apart from Him, coupled with His transforming grace and deliverance in our lives should evoke something more than muttered thanks!
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