Elect Lady's Corner

Sometimes, we can pray and ask God for so many things and be in a desperate need for His assistance, but when we get what we want we go blank, when it comes to thanking God. God is never insecure for Who He is, but he wants to be thanked for what He does for us, and He certainly deserves to be thanked. 

People are so mindful of telling others how much God loves them and how there is nothing they can ever do to make God love them more, but little emphasis is put on how much we should love God back and give thanks to Him for His loving kindness and steadfast love. Giving thanks and thankfulness appear in the King James Version of the Bible 132 times. 

Among the verses are Psalm 105:1: “O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon His name: make known His deeds among the people.” Psalm 106:1: “Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: For His mercy endureth for ever.” Psalm 100:4: “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise: Be thankful unto Him, and bless His name.” 

Colossians 3:15: “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which ye are also called in one body; and be ye thankful.” I Thessalonians 5:18: “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” And the list goes on, which brings us to the Bible story of the Ten Lepers in Luke 17:11-19.  

Leprosy was considered an incurable disease that was contagious. But many Jews believed it was inflicted for the punishment of some particular sin and a mark of God’s displeasure. So, these lepers were shut out from all society and only allowed to converse with people in a isolated community that had this disease. 

Yet, when Jesus passed by, they all yelled out to Him at a distance in v. 13 saying: “…Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” At their request Jesus healed all 10 lepers of this fatal disease. But only one of the ten returned to say thanks to Jesus; the other nine went blank! When we go blank once we received our deliverance from God and don’t return to say thank you, we may be healed from the symptom, but we are not made whole by our faith in Jesus. 

The one leper that returned to thank Jesus not only got healed, but also received the blessing of being made whole v.19.  It is interesting that the one who returned to thank Jesus was a Samaritan and the other nine were Jews. Also, although the Samaritans and the Jews were arch enemies, look how they joined together, and got along in time of desperation and a need for Jesus to intervene in their lives. 

Note: The Jews who were suppose to have the superiority and knowledge of who Jesus was, were the ones who failed to return to thank Jesus. But apparently, they went blank (i.e. a lack of conscience awareness) of the kindness of healing Jesus had just performed. While on the other hand, the Samaritans that were considered inferior or half breads to the Jews, was the one who returned to honor and thank Jesus! 

Jesus questioned the ungratefulness of the nine but gave honor to the one who gave thanks. When was the last time you gave thanks to God for His loving kindness to you? Did He wake you up this morning, clothed you in your right mind? Has He healed your body or your family or friend? Has He kept you from dangers seen and unseen? Has God been good to you despite your bad and grumpy attitude? Has He kept your loved ones alive despite them living in their sins? 

Has He blessed you financially? Did He put a roof over your head, or are you living out on the streets? Did He save you? Has God exposed your sins or short comings to everyone and shamed you? Does God yet feed you when you come to His house. Did He promise to return to take you into paradise at His return, etc.? Then, you should never go blank on God, but always have a prayer of thanks with a grateful heart for all the Lord has done for you!                                                

It’s 2022 and I’m All In! Let’s Keep It Moving!