One Out Of Ten

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

Colossians 3:17


I’m reminded of the quote that says, “Gratitude that is not expressed is ingratitude.” You might not agree, thinking that many times in life you are grateful for something but often times you don’t express what you feel. I get that as I’ve, “been there done that” as the saying goes. We do well to bear in mind that gratitude is a lot like our faith. People can’t see our faith unless it’s expressed. Isn’t that what James 1:18 reminds us when he writes, “But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works. Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works”. The point is, the world can’t see our heart, only God can. People only see our faith when it is expressed, lived out for others to see. The same is true for gratitude. You can think and feel grateful all day long but until we express it openly it really is nothing more than ingratitude. Don’t take my word for it, listen to what Jesus has to say.

In Luke 17:11-19 the physician turned disciple and apostle records for us an interesting interaction between Jesus and ten men with leprosy, “Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

In verse 17 Jesus poses the question, “Were not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not found any who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” Is Jesus calling into question the gratitude of the nine former lepers who failed to return and publicly give thanks? I believe that is exactly what Jesus is saying. “Gratitude that is not expressed is ingratitude.”

Let’s learn the lesson from the nine lepers today. Don’t follow the crowd. Be the one who stands out. Take advantage of the opportunities to return and say thank you. It’s no wonder that the apostle Paul exuded joy in every circumstance he found himself in because he never ceased to give thanks the Lord. Think of the people in your own circle of family and friends. If I were a betting man I would wager that the happiest people in your life, those who have the most joy are most likely the most grateful too. Its no wonder then that apostle Paul exhorts us all to…

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18


I LOVE YOU!