October 18, 2005

“THE DEBT OF GRATITUDE”

Luke 17

Last week I was asked to “pray” the Lord’s Prayer at the close of a grave side service; a daughter of the  deceased mother gave the eulogy.  The mother had told her daughter in the closing hours of her physical life: “You know me best, if anyone has anything to say, you say it.”  And say it she did.

I stood there and listened to the young lady tell how her mother loved people, and in the last few years how she had helped “ole-people.” I must confess, this mother must have been one of the ten who gave thanks to Almighty God, as revealed by her daughter.  She knew how important it was for us to express “love in action” – how important it is to pay “The Debt of Gratitude.”

People are ready to pray for what they want, but very few remember to thank God when He grants their requests. There seem to be something within man that resist the simple act of saying “Thank You.”  As I read this passage of scripture, I thought: “Isn’t it amazing how misery can cut across class, social, religious and racial lines.”  Have you ever noticed how flood waters make  wild animals congregate.

Surely one of the things which should draw men together   is their common  need of God.  When you are hurting as those ten lepers were  hurting,  you  cannot afford the prejudices that affect the rest of humanity.  Somehow when these lepers saw Jesus they knew He could help them.  My, how we need to pay “The Debt of Gratitude,” return and give praise to Almighty God.

Notice what Jesus told the one who returned to give praise to God for his healing: “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” [v.19]  All ten was cleansed, but only one was made whole – only one had learned to say “Thank You.”  I know, it takes time for a bride and groom too acknowledge all the gifts received; for a family to acknowledge all the floral arrangements,  but saying “Thank You” is a statement of ones character.

Saying “Thank You” is also a statement of ones faith.  Paul advised us {Eph. 5:20]  “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

There is no greater faith than that which drives a person who has been injured to nonetheless reach out to heal another. When you have been wronged, but you nonetheless go ahead and do what’s right, you are expressing faith at its highest.  That is what being a Christian is all about – to say “Thank You.”  Thank you for healing us – Thank You for loving us – Thank You for watching over us.  This is expressing faith at it’s highest.

><))):>  In "HIS" Service

Bro. Roy