A Reflection On Gratitude

When I want my thankfulness to God to overflow

Nine lepers accepted the generous gift of Jesus and walked away without saying “Thank you.” But the tenth—a Samaritan—gave thanks. He likely had been brought up to believe that Samaritans were outcasts, rejected by God’s people and alien to His Kingdom. He would have understood his cleansing to be an amazing gift of grace. He expressed his gratitude by throwing himself at Jesus’ feet and praising God with a loud voice.

How have we responded to our healing? When God cleansed us of sin, did we accept it politely, as though we were entitled to it? Many of us who were raised in the church think of salvation this way. We see it as an obligatory gift. We take it for granted.

Those who have truly known their diseased condition are often shameless and persistent—even embarrassing—in their gratitude. And this is exactly the attitude Jesus commends. He welcomes exuberance. More than anything, it reflects a genuine understanding of His grace.

One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan.

Luke 17:15-16