Thanksgiving

Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at Jesus' feet, giving him thanks. (Luke 17:15-16)

Lk. 17:11-19, 9:51; Lev. 13:5-6; Num. 5:2; I Chron. 16:8; Eph. 5:20; Phil. 4:6; I Thess. 5:18

What Is God Saying?

Immediately after he was baptized, Jesus returned to Galilee, where he performed some of his most significant healings, ministered, and taught. Then, it was time to go to Jerusalem for the climax of His ministry. "He set his face to go to Jerusalem." Luke devotes ten chapters of his Gospel to the encounters, lessons, and miracles of this phase of Jesus' ministry. They journeyed to Jerusalem south and east along the border of Galilee and Samaria. Early in this trip, they came upon a group of outcast lepers who shouted while staying at a distance. From the time of Moses, lepers were required to live outside the town and warn anyone who approached them of their unclean status. Jesus had compassion on these suffering people who, with their physical suffering, had the additional pain of ostracism.

Jesus told them to do the customary thing: go to a priest who could remove their stigma. On the way, their sickness and sores disappeared. Looking at their skin, now a healthy pink, their joy knew no bounds. Yet it was a Samaritan, not a Jew, who turned back to thank Jesus for the gift of healing.

How Does This Apply To Us?

Often, we are thankful for God's generous gift and then go on our way, glad for the gift, obsessed with the gift, and feeling superior because of it. At this Thanksgiving time, let us turn back. All of the lepers were glad to be healed. All of the lepers went away rejoicing, but they went away rejoicing in the gift. One remembered that it is more important to rejoice in the giver. All of the lepers were glad for the gift. One turned back to thank the giver.

Pray With Me

Lord, you give me health and hope; you broke down the prison walls. But now I put aside my preoccupation with all that I have from you, and I turn back to give you thanks. I turn back to ask your blessing upon the hungry or homeless, forlorn of hope or depressed in spirit. I turn back so that I may not only enjoy your gifts, but also share them with others. Above all, I turn back to give you thanks. Please help me remember the one who has given. Thank you for your gift, in whom all other gifts have their origin, and for whose glory all other gifts should be used.

In the name of Him at whose feet the leper fell, cleansed, healed, and giving thanks. Amen.

Moving On In The Life of Prayer

We give thanks to Jesus, giver of every good and perfect gift. Prayer is the time to draw near to the source. Knowing the giver and expressing our thanks to him lifts us above persistent problems and pressures. Gratitude in prayer makes us "more than conquerors". Prayer at its best is always a time of thanksgiving.