Salvation; Something To Be Really Thankful For
By Pastor David Kuntz

If you were to ask the majority of Americans what Thanksgiving means to them the men would probably say it’s a two-day vacation filled with football and food, while the women would probably say it’s cooking a big meal, cleaning up a big mess, and all day shopping on Friday.  Well, for the believer the day is a reminder to be thankful to God.  Being thankful is not just a one-day a year event; True thankfulness is a lifestyle.  The source of true thanksgiving is found in a person, not circumstances.  The person we ought to be ever so grateful to is Jesus Christ our Savior and Lord.  Embedded within the Luke 17:11-19 is a miracle of Jesus that demonstrates a picture of true thankfulness.  “And it came to pass, as Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem that He passed through the middle of Samaria & Galilee. And as He entered into a certain village, there met Him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off.  And they lifted up their voices, and said, ‘Jesus, Master by crying out have mercy on us’”  (vs. 11-13). These lepers needed to learn that true thankfulness is found in Jesus Christ, not in just their health, so Jesus tested them.  “And when He saw them, He said unto them, ‘go show yourselves unto the priests.’  And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed”  (vs. 14).  As they were running in their uncleanness, something supernatural happened!  New life began shooting through each of the leper’s wasted bodies.  “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God”  (vs. 15).  All of these men owed Jesus thanks but only one returned to thank Him.  This man realized the debt he owed and wanted to thank the one who freed him.  “And fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks: & he was a Samaritan.  And Jesus answering said, ‘Were there not ten cleansed?  But where are the nine?’”  (vs. 16-17).  Jesus makes it clear that He values our thanks and when we do not express it, He misses it!  “There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger”  (vs. 18).  Jesus’ qualm with the nine is that they were ungrateful and thankless.  The thankful Samaritan received a blessing that the other nine did not.  “And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole”  (vs. 19).  His understanding of what he was saved from brought heart-felt thankfulness!  When this leper admitted his sin and acknowledged Jesus as Lord, he was saved by grace!  If you have experienced the spiritual healing from Jesus, will you take a moment and thank him for your salvation?  Follow the example of the thankful leper this thanksgiving and discover the joy that will flood your soul!