God, this one is You!

Luke 17:11-19.

A year 5 teacher begins: “Today, boys and girls, you’re going to draw on your pieces of paper something or someone you’re grateful for… it’s a great way to remind ourselves how lucky we are for what we have or who we have in our lives. Afterwards, we will share what we have with the rest of the class.” After the drawing, the kids began to share:

I’m thankful for trees because they give me oxygen.
… for my parents because they help me with my homework.
… for chocolate.
A kid drew a hand. “It’s your hand Ms Sanders, …” recalling how the teacher cares for them, “and I’m thankful for you.”

When it comes to thanksgiving, it’s easy to miss the obvious.

In the passage, Luke sandwiches a miracle among Jesus’ teaching on His kingdom. Jesus heals ten lepers and asks them to show themselves to the priest, but only one (a Samaritan, foreigner) comes back to express gratitude to Him (v15-19).

Now leprosy in the old testament, unlike other diseases, was not just physical but spiritual. It was incurable by man. The person (leper) was considered unclean and not permitted to worship or live among people. (Num. 5:2, Lev. 13:45-46)

So if leprosy is incurable by man, this gift of healing must be from God thought the Samaritan. Luke’s point: the kingdom of God reveals one giver, and we can trace His gifts back to Him.

Every time we say thank you, we are saying, “God, this one is You! I recognise that You are the giver.” And the ultimate gift we can trace back to God is the gift of His Son Jesus. God I’m thankful for You.

Reflect & Pray

What gifts can you trace back to God today? How might you make thanksgiving to God a habit?

Thank you, Father God, for all your blessings and indescribable gift!

God bless you exceedingly,
Sam.

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