Let's take a moment to focus on the topic of thankfulness. Luke--the physician--recorded an event in the life of Jesus, showing why we ought to be thankful.

As I reflect back on the past year, there is so much for which I am very thankful. I've been blessed with opportunities around the world to share the love and hope of Jesus Christ. I've seen miracles take place this year as I've watched people place their eternal faith in the hands of Christ. 

Yet, as I ponder the amazing love of the Lord, it strikes me that so often we view our salvation as commonplace. We have received this unbelievable gift, and rather than bursting with thankfulness and jumping with joy we tuck it into the back of the dresser like a pair of socks.

Let's take a moment to focus on the topic of thankfulness. Luke--the physician--recorded this event in the life of Jesus, showing why we ought to be thankful. 

Found in Luke 17:11-19, this is the story of Jesus healing ten lepers. Once they were healed, the ten men ran off excited. But only one came back to praise God for what had happened. Just as these men were physically healed of their leprosy, we receive salvation (or spiritual healing) from Jesus that warrants our gratitude. 

First, we can be thankful that Jesus came to us (vv. 11-13). The text says that Jesus went through Samaria and Galilee, both of which were made up of people stigmatized by society. Samaritans were considered unclean people. Galileans were misfits and rogues, and yet Jesus made the effort to go to them. They did not have to go to Jesus. Similarly, God came down from heaven some 2,000 years ago in order to redeem mankind.

Second, we need to also be thankful because Jesus hears our cries (v. 14). The text says the men yelled out to Jesus because they were lepers, and the law required them to stay at a distance in order to prevent infecting others. But Jesus stopped and answered their cry for help. This is significant. These men realized their own situation--that they were very sick and they could not help themselves. If they could have, they would have already done so. They realized that only Jesus could help them and so they cried out to Him. Likewise, when we cry out to Christ for our salvation, it is because we understand that we are unable to save ourselves. We are spiritual lepers in need of healing. 

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