Luke 17:11-13 (NKJV) — 11 Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. 13 And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

With Thanksgiving coming up we can focus on giving thanks to the Lord. Some of the first settlers in America were Christians going through brutal times. They may not have survived if God hadn’t provided them with help. More than half of those who traveled on the Mayflower had perished and it didn’t look good for the rest. God heard them when they cried out, intervened, and saved them from their hardship. They gave thanks to God for providing and saving them. This scripture written by Luke shows us the importance of giving thanks to Jesus and to God. Verses 12-13 tell us the lepers knew who Jesus was and that Jesus could heal them. They knew Jesus and only Jesus could cure them. They sought Jesus and cried out to Him in their time of need.

Remember and thank the Lord for the needs you have cried out to Him for and the care He has provided you. What needs do you still have to cry out to Him for?

Luke 17:14-16 (NKJV) — 14 So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed.  15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.

Jesus acknowledged the lepers needs and gave them instructions to be healed. Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priests which was a requirement of one healed of leprosy. Jesus requested an action from them, an act of faith, to be healed. Jesus will hear you and acknowledge your physical and spiritual needs when you cry out to him. He may also request an action from you.

Are there any actions God has made known to you that you have yet to do?

Why do you think it was the Samaritan that came back praising God and giving thanks?

Luke 17:17-19 (NKJV) —  17 So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? 18 Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” 19 And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

Jesus notices who gives thanks and who doesn’t! Jesus seemed to always give thanks to God the Father for all things and especially before eating (Mark 14:23, Luke 22:19, John 6:11). David said in 1 Chronicles 16:34, “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 4:7, “And what do you have that you did not receive? Now if you did indeed receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?”

Why is giving thanks to the Lord so important and what do you notice when you do?

Think over this last year with everything you have gone through and what God has provided for you. What can you give thanks for this Thanksgiving?