Luke 17 11-19 Developing Thankfulness_docx
Developing Thankfulness Will Arndt, Community Pastor
Luke 17:11-19 Sunday Evening, November 9, 2014 PM
My earliest recollections on Thanksgiving have created a love for the holiday. I wish my actual thankfulness came as easy as the holiday. Celebrating Thanksgiving is different than actually being thankful. I am good at a… not so good at b. For instance, a neighbor lady gave us a Chick-fil-A mint instead of something bigger and tastier. I found myself being critical of her kindness, especially since she was very poor. I am reminded of that when I read a story like the one in Luke 17.11-19 There are probably a lot more lessons you could draw from this story. But for our purposes of thanksgiving, I want to focus on a couple things: 1. My natural tendency is to act like the 9 a. They were acting lawfully – they were the proper 100 paces away (a long distance) which was a compassionate act. b. They were demonstrating faith (To call out to God in a time of trouble – that is what all 10 did right.) “Have mercy on us” is a call to be healed. c. They were performing obediently – they turned and went to the priest just as Jesus had commanded them. d. Yet, The Holy Spirit through Luke had one other thing: They neglected one thing – They were eager to receive things from God without pausing to give thanks to God. Application: how often do I enjoy the blessings from God while never actually thinking about the fact that it was God who gave them? 2. My sanctified reaction should be to act like the 1: a. His gratitude came immediately – he did not delay in turning to give thanks to Jesus. One author says “He wished Christ to have the glory, before He had the benefit.” b. His gratitude was passionate – he cried with a loud voice – there was no sense of self or fear of man. He enthusiastically called back to Jesus because He was excited about the work of Christ in his life. He used his voice to passionately thank the one deserving of thanks. c. His gratitude was worshipful – he threw himself at Jesus feet in a demonstration of reverence. He understood what significance had been done to him and he couldn’t help but direct his posture to worship. It was all about the Giver of the Gift, not the gift itself. Can you say that? d. In this specific situation, His gratitude led to Christ’s ultimate purpose. It is theological – why was Jesus on his way to Jerusalem? He was heading to the cross. This great day for him was far more significant than just a healing of leprosy. Jesus set out to save, and He did. The man was changed inside and out.
Application: do you ever wonder what happened to the other 9? They went on their way and never experienced more than just a physical healing. Their lives would be rocked again. And without Christ, it would be worthless. The Samaritan was actually saved twice. He was free from the physical effect of leprosy. He was also free form the spiritual effects of sin. The Impulse to Gratitude is like developing a muscle. We must ask Christ to give us this, and when He urges us, continue developing it immediately, passionately, worshipfully, because gratitude directs us to Christ.
Luke 17:11-19 Sunday Evening, November 9, 2014 PM
My earliest recollections on Thanksgiving have created a love for the holiday. I wish my actual thankfulness came as easy as the holiday. Celebrating Thanksgiving is different than actually being thankful. I am good at a… not so good at b. For instance, a neighbor lady gave us a Chick-fil-A mint instead of something bigger and tastier. I found myself being critical of her kindness, especially since she was very poor. I am reminded of that when I read a story like the one in Luke 17.11-19 There are probably a lot more lessons you could draw from this story. But for our purposes of thanksgiving, I want to focus on a couple things: 1. My natural tendency is to act like the 9 a. They were acting lawfully – they were the proper 100 paces away (a long distance) which was a compassionate act. b. They were demonstrating faith (To call out to God in a time of trouble – that is what all 10 did right.) “Have mercy on us” is a call to be healed. c. They were performing obediently – they turned and went to the priest just as Jesus had commanded them. d. Yet, The Holy Spirit through Luke had one other thing: They neglected one thing – They were eager to receive things from God without pausing to give thanks to God. Application: how often do I enjoy the blessings from God while never actually thinking about the fact that it was God who gave them? 2. My sanctified reaction should be to act like the 1: a. His gratitude came immediately – he did not delay in turning to give thanks to Jesus. One author says “He wished Christ to have the glory, before He had the benefit.” b. His gratitude was passionate – he cried with a loud voice – there was no sense of self or fear of man. He enthusiastically called back to Jesus because He was excited about the work of Christ in his life. He used his voice to passionately thank the one deserving of thanks. c. His gratitude was worshipful – he threw himself at Jesus feet in a demonstration of reverence. He understood what significance had been done to him and he couldn’t help but direct his posture to worship. It was all about the Giver of the Gift, not the gift itself. Can you say that? d. In this specific situation, His gratitude led to Christ’s ultimate purpose. It is theological – why was Jesus on his way to Jerusalem? He was heading to the cross. This great day for him was far more significant than just a healing of leprosy. Jesus set out to save, and He did. The man was changed inside and out.
Application: do you ever wonder what happened to the other 9? They went on their way and never experienced more than just a physical healing. Their lives would be rocked again. And without Christ, it would be worthless. The Samaritan was actually saved twice. He was free from the physical effect of leprosy. He was also free form the spiritual effects of sin. The Impulse to Gratitude is like developing a muscle. We must ask Christ to give us this, and when He urges us, continue developing it immediately, passionately, worshipfully, because gratitude directs us to Christ.
