REPOST Today’s AMI QT Devotional, provided by Pastor David Kwon who heads Journey Community Church in Raleigh, North Carolina, was first posted on June 14, 2014.  He is a graduate of Drexel University (BS) and Columbia International University (M.Div.).

Spiritual Food for Thought for the Weekend

“Gratitude”

Luke 17:11-19

On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 12And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance 13and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” 14When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Gratitude is one of the most powerful spiritual disciplines which every believer should practice continually.  As a young parent, one of the many lessons we try to teach our kids is thanksgiving and gratitude.  But sometimes, my kids seem to complain about the things they do not have rather than the things my wife and I have already given them.   If we are honest, we can be guilty of this as well. 

When Jesus heals the lepers, only the Samaritan (foreigner) returns back to give thanks, and Jesus asks, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?” When Jesus had instructed the leprous men to go to the priest, all of them had turned to do so. On their way, all of them were healed, but only one had taken the trouble to return and thank Jesus.  In the passage, God’s graciousness is ignored and unappreciated by the nine men who were healed, but Jesus appreciates the Samaritan’s sensitivity and commends it.

Sometimes, we can take for granted what God does in our lives. We must have the same attitude that this man had when he saw that he was clean. He didn’t hesitate to give thanks to Jesus – but praised and worshiped Him. In the chaos of our lives, it can be hard to step back and thank God for what he has done for us.  Gratitude can also be powerful in overcoming a complaining heart, discontentment, bitterness, and spiritual dryness.  

Just like this one Samaritan leper who returned, take time and specifically name things in your life that you are grateful for.  These can be some examples:

• Your salvation/faith in Jesus
• Local church
• School/Job that you are currently in
• Family
• Health
• Even hardship and trials

Prayer: Dear God, increase my awareness of all that has been given to me unconditionally in order that I might be more grateful toward the Giver—namely, You, Lord—of such amazing gifts. Thank You.  Amen.

Bible Reading for Today: Ezekiel 26-27