Grateful For Grace

Grateful for Grace

Read: Luke 17:11-19

“Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”

Luke 17:17-18

“Gratitude is born in hearts that take time to count up past mercies.”

—Charles Jefferson

IN WORD Nine lepers accepted the generous gift of Jesus and walked away without saying “Thanks.” What were they thinking? Were they resentful that God had allowed them to get leprosy to begin with? Perhaps so. They were possibly brought up to believe that their salvation from God was a birthright, an inherent part of their genetic relationship to Abraham. If so, leprosy would have been an unwelcome intrusion on their rightful status in the kingdom. Rather than being humbled by it, they were perhaps even angry with God over it. They would have seen Jesus as only giving them their due. Thankfulness is difficult to express when one starts with an attitude of entitlement.

But the Samaritan gave thanks. He likely had been brought up to believe that Samaritans are outcasts, rejected by God’s people and alien to His kingdom. Perhaps his leprosy was an outward evidence of the sinfulness that he knew to infect his heart. He would have understood his cleansing to be an amazing gift of grace. He shamelessly—and appropriately—expressed his gratitude by throwing himself at Jesus’ feet and praising God with a loud voice.

IN DEED 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—like children who expect, or even demand, a certain level of Christmas generosity from their parents. Gratitude for something we take for granted is difficult.

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.