Welcome to Thursday, August 12th!

Today’s episode of The Cross Talk Daily Devotional is titled:

A Little Gratitude

Thanks for listening!

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Scripture references are from the New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995}

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  A Little Gratitude Have you ever given someone something or provided a service for them and not received a thank you?

It's not like we did it to only receive an accolade from them, but it is nice to have our effort acknowledged.

Do you remember your mother or father coaxing you to say thank you when someone gave you a gift or complimented you? In fact, it was more than just a suggestion; it was a command!

Why is that?

They understood how important it is to instill the practice of gratitude into our lives. My mother used to say that a person should look for ways to express gratitude.

The Bible records an instance in which only one out of 10 individuals whom Jesus healed from leprosy showed any gratitude.

Luke 17:11-19 NAS95

While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee.  [12]  As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him;  [13]  and they raised their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"  [14]  When He saw them, He said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they were going, they were cleansed.  [15]  Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice,  [16]  and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan.  [17]  Then Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they?  [18]  "Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?"  [19]  And He said to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has made you well."

The disease of leprosy was often a death sentence to those who caught the disease. Today, antibiotics cure this awful disease.

Leprosy required segregation away from the general population. Transmission occurred if one was in prolonged, close contact with someone with leprosy. It didn't matter who you were: doctor, community leader, or a mother; you needed to live apart from your family and the entire community.

All ten lepers sought the help of Jesus. Perhaps, they heard stories of how this Jesus healed people of various diseases. They asked for mercy, and Jesus granted it.

The central thought of the passage is:

Though ten lepers were cleansed – only one returned to give glory to God!

They were expected to be thankful and to demonstrate their gratitude. But the former lepers were negligent and ungrateful, and Jesus notices their ingratitude!

Often, we miss the point of verses 15-16.

Luke 17:15-16 NAS95

Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice,  [16]  and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan.

Who was the one who returned to give thanks? He was a Samaritan and, as such, viewed with contempt by the Jews. The Samaritans did not worship the One and only True God. Nevertheless, this leper understood that the mercy of one True God had touched him. As a result, he gave thanks.

We need to pay more attention to how and when we show gratitude. For example, our prayers certainly ought to include thanksgiving and expressions of appreciation.

How about those we interact with daily? Do we often take them for granted? Make a note to do better in the gratitude department this week!

Let's Pray,

Gracious Heavenly Father,

Help us to look for ways to show gratitude to those who care for and support us.

May we not forget to give thanks for our salvation and all you provide us every day.

Guide our hearts as we seek to live for You this day.

In the Name of Jesus,

Amen!