ONE THANKFUL MAN

One Thankful Man

By Pastor Mark Taylor

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. And he said unto him, Arise, go your way: your faith has made you whole” (Luke 17:17-19).

Giving thanks and the word thanksgiving are mentioned over 140 times in the Bible.  All the people used by God in the Bible had the “attitude of gratitude”.  David said: “Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits” (Psalms 103:1-2).  Daniel gave thanks: “Daniel went to his house. And his windows were open in his roof room toward Jerusalem; and he kneeled on his knees three times a day and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did before” (Daniel 6:10).  Paul tells us: “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

You do not have to wait until a special day like "Thanksgiving" to be thankful.  You do not even have to wait until Sunday when you go to church to be thankful.  You should be thankful everyday and every time God does something special for you.  You should be thankful for the things He has already done for you.  God loves to hear appreciative prayers of thanks from His children.

In this recorded event, Jesus stopped to help 10 seriously ill people even though He had been on a long journey and was probably very tired.  Leprosy was a disease which the Jews thought was a punishment for some particular sin.  Disease and sickness are not always related to sin, but Christ came to take away sin and demonstrated that He has power over sin and disease.  Our physical bodies are not made to last forever on this Earth.  Children of God will receive a resurrected body that will last forever and we will live with God forever: “And I heard a great voice out of Heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away all tears from their eyes. And there will be no more death, nor mourning, nor crying out, nor will there be any more pain; for the first things passed away. And He sitting on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said to me, Write, for these words are true and faithful” (Revelation 21:3-5).

The ten did not ask for a cure for the leprosy, but cried out “Have mercy on us”.  Sometimes we don’t know what to pray for: “Likewise the Spirit also helps our infirmities. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Romans 8:26).

“And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.”(Luke 17:14)  When you ask the Lord to help you, He will usually ask you to do something to demonstrate your faith. 

The “One Thankful Man”, took the time to return to Jesus to thank Him.  He started out standing “afar off”, but now he was on “his face at His feet, giving Him thanks”.  He started out asking for mercy, and now he glorified God with a “loud voice”.

Those who have received mercy from God should publish it it others.  Their praise to God may encourage others and lead them to trust Christ.

 Jesus took notice of the grateful return the “One Thankful Man” made.  He also took notice of the ingratitude of those that were sharers of the mercy that did not return to give thanks.

“Where are the nine?”  Of the many that receive mercy from God, there are very few (one in ten) that return to give thanks.

Today, thank our Lord and Savior for the many times He has had mercy on you.  If you are a child of God you have much to be thankful for.  You have Heaven to look forward to.  Jesus told the “One Thankful Man” that his faith had made him whole.

He not only received a physical healing, but a spiritual healing.

He not only received a higher quality of life on earth, but he received “Eternal Life”.  Be one of the 10% that Loves God enough to give thanks to Him today!!!!

“To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever” (Psalms 30:12).

“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto Your name, O most High” (Psalms 92:1).

“Praise you the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endures for ever” (Psalms 106:1).

“By Him, then, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15).