The One Who Returned

“But one of them, seeing that he was healed, returned and, with a loud voice, gave glory to God…Then Jesus said, “Were not 10 cleansed? Where are the nine? Didn’t any return to give glory to God except this foreigner?’” (Luke 17:15-18).

There is power in thankfulness. When you do a favor for someone and they are genuinely thankful, your heart feels full, doesn’t it? It’s a wonderful feeling when someone thanks you for a gift or a sacrifice that you’ve made.

Do you know why it feels good when someone acknowledges your service and your thoughtfulness? Because God loves it when His children thank Him and acknowledge Him when He blesses us. Do you know why it hurts when someone fails to thank you or even acknowledge you after you do something for them? Because it hurts God when we fail to thank Him for the things He does for us.

We are made in the image of God; therefore, the emotions we feel are attributes of God. We serve a God who feels.

Previously, we discussed why it’s important to protect our hearts from pride after we have been blessed, but there’s something else that we should always remember to do after we receive from God, and that is to thank Him. It seems like such an obvious thing to do—thank the Lord for His blessings—but do we really remember to thank Him when He blesses us? Do we come to Him with a genuine heart and pour out our gratitude, or do we say a quick thank you and go about our business?

In Luke chapter 17, Jesus is passing through a village and 10 men with a skin disease meet Him. They beg Him for healing, and He tells them to go see the priests. While they are on their way to see the priests, they are healed. Out of these 10 men, only one comes back to thank Jesus, falling on his knees before Him and giving glory to God. Just one.

We can’t know in this life just how many moments a day the Lord blesses us, protects us, and shields us from harm, but how often does He put a blessing right in front of us and we fail to thank Him? Are we like one of the nine men who didn’t return to thank Him?

There is power in our thankfulness. It blesses God’s heart to know we are grateful and when we praise Him for His presence and His hand in our lives. Being thankful is a lifestyle—it’s an attitude of the heart.

May we never fail to acknowledge His power and presence in our lives. Don’t be like the nine who went on their way and never looked back—be the one who returns to thank Him.