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How do I say thanks?


As He entered a village, ten leprous men who stood at a distance met Him; and they raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” When He saw them, He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were going, they were cleansed. Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they? “Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” (NASB, Luke 17:12-18)

Two realities were well known in ancient Greece: 1. Benefactors were recognized by their generosity. 2. Recipients were evaluated on their gratefulness.  This cultural norm continued into the New Testament times and throughout the Mediterranean world.  When Jesus healed the ten lepers only one returned to say thanks.  Jesus expressed astonishment at this.  He was a gracious and powerful benefactor in healing their leprosy, a virtually incurable disease.  They should have shown the common decency to say thanks! 
Did Jesus heal them in order to hear them express thanks? Absolutely not.  Would He only heal those who would be grateful? No.  His healing was like our salvation, an act of grace, unmerited favor. But just because He is motivated by mercy and grace does not mean that our response is unimportant.

In his book, "Honor, Patronage, Kinship, and Purity" David A. deSilva states, "Gratitude provides a clarifying focus to the Christian for his or her life, a single value that, lived out as the New Testament authors direct, will result in a vibrant fruitful discipleship."

So, how do I say thanks for all He has done for me?

  1. Through your worship and your verbal witness:
             
 And in that day you will say,
         “Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name.
         Make known His deeds among the peoples;
         Make them remember that His name is exalted.”
         Praise the LORD in song, for He has done excellent things;
         Let this be known throughout the earth.
         Cry aloud and shout for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,
         For great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel. (NASB, IS 12:4-6)

Considering our forgiveness (Is 43:25) in Christ and the promise of eternal life (1 Jn 5:12) our natural response is one of praise and thanksgiving.  Not only should we express our thankfulness to God, but we should boldly share our faith with others.  His renown should spread throughout the earth.

  1. Through your love and obedience:
     
“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments." (NASB, Jn 14:15)

A noble response to God's love and forgiveness is to love Him in return.

  "We love, because He first loved us." (1 Jn 4:19)

Anything less would indicate that you are either uniformed about or have forgotten God's love and forgiveness.  OR that you never knew it at all.

So called "cheap grace" seems to indicate that someone can become a partaker of God's grace and turn away to a life of independence and disobedience.  That's ridiculous!  Anyone who has truly experienced the Lord in a saving way will want with all their heart to love Him and serve Him. After all, grace was not cheap, it cost God the Father the life of His dear Son.

Let's not be like the nine lepers who simply walked away.  Let's make serious plans to thank God with our words, our witness, our love, and our obedience.

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