MESSAGE NOTES
While [Jesus] was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; and they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” ~ Luke 17:11-13
When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed. ~ Luke 17:14
Imagine this miracle! You’ve suffered from leprosy for who knows how long, you cry out to Jesus for a miracle and He essentially pronounces you healed.
Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. ~ Luke 17:15-16
Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.” ~ Luke 17:17-19
Ten lives miraculously transformed in an instant. Previously there was no hope of ever living a normal life again! And then, with a word from Jesus, everything changes. Hope returns. Healing comes. But only one of the ten stops to say thank you and he is from a group of people that have a rough relationship with Jesus’ people. That guy is my model for gratitude.
THREE ATTITUDES OF GRATITUDE
1) Declare: “I know every good thing I have comes from God.”
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. ~ James 1:17
2) Declare: “I will not let what I want rob me of what I have.”
What the eyes see is better than what the soul desires. This too is futility and a striving after wind. ~ Ecclesiastes 6:9
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush! It’s better to embrace what God is giving you than to always want something more. Whenever we adopt an attitude of gratitude, gratitude turns whatever we have into enough. It’s not happy people who are grateful, it’s grateful people who are happy.
Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. ~ Philippians 4:11-13
Paul got to a place where Christ was all that he had. Until Christ is all that you have, you may not ever know that Christ is all you need.
3) Declare: “I will turn every blessing I have into praise.”
Every time we don’t turn a blessing back into praise, it turns into pride.
Don’t miss the power of this: Take a bunch of things you take for granted every single day and pretend you just lost them. Really settle into that grief, that loss. Then pretend you got them back. What do you do? Suddenly, you start thanking God for what you already have, because you really realize you have so much to be grateful for. God I thank you for my health, I thank you for my family, I thank you for my friends, I thank you that I have a place to worship. I thank you that I have transportation, I have food. I have shelter. I have clothing. All because of You God. Every good and perfect thing I have is a gift from You, a gift from above.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle. ~ Psalm 103:1-5