An Attitude of Gratitude

Recently, as I was slowly ready through the book of Luke, I read a story in chapter 17 that I would like to share with you.

As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God!” He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”

Luke 17:11-19

When I read this, I thought, Jesus healed all 10 men but only 1 was truly grateful. How sad, only 10%! Then I thought, may I be among that 10% who were grateful? I want to have an attitude of gratitude. The reality is, I don’t need to think very hard to find reasons for gratitude towards God. He has blessed my life in some many ways. Matthew Henry, the famous Bible commentator, was once robbed of his wallet. That night he wrote down in his diary all the things he was grateful for.

First, that he had never been robbed before this.
Second, that though they took his wallet, they did not take his life.
Third, because even though they took it all, it wasn’t very much.
Finally, because he was the one who was robbed and not the one who did the robbing.

Now, that’s what an attitude of gratitude looks like. What things are you most grateful for? Why not take a moment to thank the Lord those things? Let’s have an attitude of gratitude.