Beyond Thanksgiving: Living a Life of Biblical Gratitude
The Question That Should Haunt Us
Ten men stood at a distance, their bodies ravaged by leprosy, their voices raspy with desperation: "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" Jesus spoke. They obeyed. And as they walked toward the priests, skin that had been rotting began to heal. Fingers that had been falling off grew whole. Faces disfigured by disease became new.
Ten miracles. Ten changed lives. Ten men who would never be outcasts again.
But only one came back.
"Were there not ten cleansed?" Jesus asked, searching the horizon. "But where are the nine?"
It's the most convicting question in Luke 17—and it's aimed directly at us. How many mornings have you awakened with breath in your lungs and never whispered "thank you"? How many meals have satisfied your hunger without a moment of gratitude? How often has God's mercy surrounded you while you rushed past it, barely noticing?
Three Gratitude Killers
Pride convinces us that our blessings resulted from our own effort. Prideful people look down, never around, and certainly never up. But Scripture is clear: every good gift comes from above.
Presumption makes us take everything for granted. We wake up expecting another day without recognizing it as the gift it truly is. "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" isn't poetry—it's a prescription for grateful living.
Prosperity dulls our appreciation. The more we have, the less we treasure. When blessing becomes expectation, we lose sight of the Giver.
The Gratitude God Desires
Biblical gratitude isn't merely a feeling—it's an action. The one leper "returned with a loud voice glorifying God" and threw himself at Jesus' feet. This is worship born from genuine recognition of mercy received.
Here's the truth: we don't deserve justice; we need mercy. And at the cross, mercy came in full measure. That alone warrants a lifetime of thanksgiving.
A seed of rebellion will never grow in a grateful heart. So this Thanksgiving week and every week after, choose to be the one who returns. Humble yourself. Refuse presumption. Look past prosperity to see the Giver behind every gift. Make gratitude a continual part of your lifestyle, not just your Thursday celebration.
Ten men stood at a distance, their bodies ravaged by leprosy, their voices raspy with desperation: "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" Jesus spoke. They obeyed. And as they walked toward the priests, skin that had been rotting began to heal. Fingers that had been falling off grew whole. Faces disfigured by disease became new.
Ten miracles. Ten changed lives. Ten men who would never be outcasts again.
But only one came back.
"Were there not ten cleansed?" Jesus asked, searching the horizon. "But where are the nine?"
It's the most convicting question in Luke 17—and it's aimed directly at us. How many mornings have you awakened with breath in your lungs and never whispered "thank you"? How many meals have satisfied your hunger without a moment of gratitude? How often has God's mercy surrounded you while you rushed past it, barely noticing?
Three Gratitude Killers
Pride convinces us that our blessings resulted from our own effort. Prideful people look down, never around, and certainly never up. But Scripture is clear: every good gift comes from above.
Presumption makes us take everything for granted. We wake up expecting another day without recognizing it as the gift it truly is. "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" isn't poetry—it's a prescription for grateful living.
Prosperity dulls our appreciation. The more we have, the less we treasure. When blessing becomes expectation, we lose sight of the Giver.
The Gratitude God Desires
Biblical gratitude isn't merely a feeling—it's an action. The one leper "returned with a loud voice glorifying God" and threw himself at Jesus' feet. This is worship born from genuine recognition of mercy received.
Here's the truth: we don't deserve justice; we need mercy. And at the cross, mercy came in full measure. That alone warrants a lifetime of thanksgiving.
A seed of rebellion will never grow in a grateful heart. So this Thanksgiving week and every week after, choose to be the one who returns. Humble yourself. Refuse presumption. Look past prosperity to see the Giver behind every gift. Make gratitude a continual part of your lifestyle, not just your Thursday celebration.
This week’s blog draws from the message shared by Interim Pastor Steve Dighton on Sunday, November 23. You can watch the full message here.
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