Does Gratitude Matter to Jesus?

What a difference our world would be if our lives were filled with deposits of gratitude instead of withdrawals or gripes. Does gratitude matter to Jesus? Celebrating this past month of Thanksgiving, find out what Luke 17 has to say and hear helpful tips to express gratitude in today’s short, encouraging devotion from Angela Donadio’s devotional, “Astounded: Encountering God in Everyday Moments.”

When life is busy making withdrawals, saying “thank you” makes deposits. For me, reading thoughtful sentiments never goes out of style.

Gratitude matters to Jesus. Perhaps nowhere is this more evident in Scripture than in a story found in Luke 17. While traveling through a village, ten men afflicted with leprosy stood at a distance and called out loudly, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” Miraculously, He healed all ten.

Yet perhaps even more incredulous is what happened in verse 15: “One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?’ Then he said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.'”

Healed of a horrid disease that rendered these men utter outcasts, one returned to thank Jesus. Only one. The man’s praise is even more profound to Jesus considering the deep-seeded tension that existed between the Samaritans and the Jews. Jesus never let man-made barriers keep Him from divine appointments. He recognized the man for his heart of thanksgiving and honored him for his faith. This story may have occurred 2000 years ago but the message is just as relevant today.

Let’s watch for ways to say “thank you” to our spouses, our kids’ teachers, our cashiers and our friends. More than anything, let’s live the kind of life someone else wants to thank. You don’t have to be up on the latest fashion to be in style. Rock those leg warmers. Just don’t forget to say, “thanks.” {eoa}

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