“And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger” (Luke 17:17,18).
TEXT — Luke 17:12-19
Message
The Encyclopaedia of Bible illustrations featured an anecdote that runs thus: “A clergyman included in his annual report the item “Nine persons lost at sea.” When the congregation expressed shock and amazement, he said, “Well, eleven persons requested prayers for those going to sea, and only two asked me to give thanks for a safe return, so I assume that the other nine were lost at sea.”
Those who fail to return to thank God for mercies or benefits received from Him are like the nine persons “lost at sea” and the nine unthankful lepers. Being thankful is a characteristic of people who have been transformed by grace while the Bible identifies ingratitude as a significant feature of unconverted people. In our text, ten lepers approached Jesus for healing, and He instructed them to go and show themselves to the priests who would examine and confirm their healing. As they obeyed Christ, they discovered they were cleansed. Right then, one returned to thank Jesus, whereas the remaining nine were more upbeat about seeing the priest and their restoration to the community.
Most of us are not thankful for ordinary or extraordinary favours we receive from God. The nine unthankful, cleansed lepers represent people who receive daily blessings from God without gratitude. Thanksgiving could be in the form of singing praises, giving service, testimony or our substance to God.
Every living soul ought to thank God, especially the redeemed of the Lord. We should thank Him for His divine presence, the answer to our prayers, unmerited benefits, provision and preservation. Above all, we can show our gratitude to God by surrendering ourselves and committing our possessions to His work.
Thought for the day
A thankful heart always attracts tank-full blessings.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
4 comments
Truly our Lord and master Jesus Christ has been good to us, particularly those of us in Ghana, precisely Kumasi for the just ended (July) GCK. We really been blessed. Members of this church and christiandom in general have been made proud, inpired, revived and transformed. Our shoulders have been lifted higher. Blessed be to the name of the Lord, our GS and leadership of the church. We also thank all the affiliated churches who have appreciated and accepted the Ministry of our GS. May God bless Otumfuo Osei Tutu (Asantehene for being represented) and the entire church for their contributions in diverse ways to the success of GCK, Kumasi. We wish all of you a safe journey and prosperous Ministry.
Truly our Lord and master Jesus Christ has been good to us, particularly those of us in Ghana, precisely Kumasi for the just ended (July) GCK. We really been blessed. Members of this church and christiandom in general have been made proud, inpired, revived and transformed. Our shoulders have been lifted higher. Blessed be to the name of the Lord, our GS and leadership of the church. We also thank all the affiliated churches who have appreciated and accepted the Ministry of our GS. May God bless Otumfuo Osei Tutu (Asantehene for being represented) and the entire church for their contributions in diverse ways to the success of GCK, Kumasi. We wish all of you a safe journey and prosperous Ministry.
Amen
I am regularly blessed and spiritually revitalized
LORD, please help me to be always obedient to your instructions, to demonstrate my faith in You and to overflow with thankfulness in Jesus Name.