Cultivating a Heart of Gratitude: Lessons from the Ten Lepers

Nov 11

Have you ever received a blessing and forgotten to say "thank you"? In our fast-paced world, it's all too easy to overlook the good things in our lives as we rush from one task to the next. But what if I told you that slowing down to express gratitude could be the key to experiencing true wholeness?

As we approach the Thanksgiving season, let's take a moment to reflect on what it means to be truly thankful. In Luke 17:11-19, we find a powerful story that illustrates the transformative power of gratitude.

The Tale of Ten Lepers

Jesus was traveling near the border of Samaria when He encountered ten men with leprosy. These men were outcasts, forced to live on the fringes of society due to their condition. When they saw Jesus, they cried out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" (Luke 17:13)

Jesus responded by telling them to go show themselves to the priests. As they went, something miraculous happened – they were cleansed of their leprosy. But the story doesn't end there. Out of the ten men who were healed, only one returned to thank Jesus.

"One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, 'Praise God!' He fell to the ground at Jesus' feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan." (Luke 17:15-16)

Cured vs. Whole: The Power of Gratitude

This story reveals a profound truth about thankfulness. While all ten men were cured of their physical ailment, only one experienced true wholeness. Jesus said to this man, "Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you." (Luke 17:19)

In the original Greek, two different words are used for "healed" in this passage. The first instance refers to being cured physically, while the second implies being made whole – not just in body, but in spirit as well.

This teaches us an important lesson: Thankfulness is our response to life's blessings. When we pause to express gratitude, we open ourselves up to experiencing God's healing in a deeper, more holistic way.

The Art of Slowing Down

So how can we cultivate a heart of thankfulness in our daily lives? The first step is to slow down. As I shared in the sermon, "We crowd our schedules and our calendars with so much stuff that we're so busy going from here to there that we have no time to slow down and acknowledge the goodness that is actually unfolding in front of us."

Think about the Halloween candy analogy. Are we like the teenagers rushing from house to house, focused solely on filling our bags? Or are we like the young children who take time to appreciate each piece of candy and say "thank you"?

Telling Others: The Mark of a Believer

The great evangelist Billy Graham once said, "Thanksgiving – the giving of thanks to God for all His blessings – should be one of the most distinctive Marks of the believer in Jesus Christ."

When we express our gratitude, not only to God but to those around us, we become more attractive people. It's a simple act that can have a profound impact on our relationships and our witness to others.

Putting It Into Practice

As we approach this Thanksgiving season, I challenge you to ask yourself: "What more do I need to be thankful?" Often, we think we need to achieve or acquire something more before we can be truly grateful. But the truth is, we already have countless reasons to give thanks.

Here are some practical steps you can take to cultivate a heart of thankfulness:

1. Start a gratitude journal: Each day, write down three things you're thankful for.
2. Express appreciation to others: Make it a point to thank someone every day.
3. Pray with thanksgiving: Begin your prayers by listing the blessings in your life.
4. Slow down: Take time each day to pause and notice the good things around you.

Remember, thankfulness is our response to life's blessings. By cultivating a heart of gratitude, we open ourselves up to experiencing the fullness of God's healing and wholeness in our lives.

Let's be like the one leper who returned – may we never be too busy or preoccupied to pause and give thanks to the One who has blessed us beyond measure.

Ryan Schreckenghaust

My name is Ryan Schreckenghaust and I’m the Lead Pastor at The Summit Church. Lee’s Summit is my hometown and I love connecting with people to tell them about who Jesus is.

I am a graduate of William Jewell College and, after changing my major countless times, felt God’s nudge to invest my life in the work of the local church. I graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Psychology. I then attended Rockbridge Seminary where I earned the Master of Ministry Leadership degree.

I was licensed to the Gospel Ministry in 2003, ordained as a Pastor/Elder in 2013, licensed as Local Church Pastor in the United Methodist Church in 2019, and completed the United Methodist Course of Study in 2021.

I have worked at several churches over the last 20 years where I served in roles such as Student Ministry Pastor, Creative Arts Pastor, and Executive Pastor. I’ve also worked professionally as a social media strategist in the marketing department at a Fortune 500 company.

I’ve been married to my wife Rebekah for more than 20 years. Rebekah is a school counselor at a local middle school. Together we have two boys, Jackson and Camden, and a Weimaraner named Poppy. I love time with my family, reading and watching my favorite sports teams!