Luke 17:11-19

On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 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.” 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; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Thanksgiving in the Bible isn’t an annual holiday to celebrate, but a daily practice to cultivate. Thanksgiving moves us from recognition of God’s attributes, acts, gifts, and promises to rejoicing in a God who does such things.

1. The Gifts from Jesus

Luke 17:11-14
On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. 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.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.

Four Aspects of Biblical Thanksgiving
1. Thankfulness for something
2. Thankfulness to someone (God)
3. Thankfulness to God expressed
4. Thankfulness to God leading to Delight in God

“We are able to see every gift as a beam from the sun of God’s glory. Every joy in the beam runs up to the foundation of light and ends there. No created thing becomes a rival but only a revelation of God.” John Piper

2. The Responses to Jesus

Luke 17: 15-19
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. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And he said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”

Application

1. Be the one, not the nine, by choosing to cultivate gratitude and thanksgiving.

a. Be on the look out for God’s blessing, provision, care, and grace to you.
b. Add more thanksgiving into your praying and Bible reading.
c. In unwanted circumstances, choose gratitude over grumbling
d. Develop a habit of thanksgiving during the Advent season.