Introduction: Truthfully, has God answered prayers in your life and you forgot to “Give Thanks”? Really, that probably applies to every Christian, even though some are not willing to admit their negligence. Perhaps most of us take our BLESSINGS for granted!

 

So, how can we be mindful as well as GRATEFUL for our BLESSINGS?

 

1. Everybody needs the BLESSINGS from the Lord! Life has its challenges (Luke 17:12) – “And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off.”

 

Leprosy is a physical disease that serves as a typology of a spiritual disease called sin. Since man is a sinner by birth, by choice, and by nature, we are all in need of a Savior. However, God has provided a cure for this sin-sick disease through the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ. Have you trusted in His death, burial, and resurrection for the forgiveness of your sins?

 

2. Somebody wants the BLESSINGS without letting the BLESSER control them!(Luke 17:17–18) – “And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.”

 

It seems that many today just want the “Hand of God’s blessings” but not the “Heart of Obedience”!
Obedience is the key to blessings!

 

3. Anybody can come to Jesus and be BLESSED! (Luke 17:13–14) – “And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.”

 

Unfortunately, some today think that they need to “clean up their act” before trusting in Jesus. But that is putting the cart before the horse. Instead, we are to come to Jesus as we are, and He does the changing. Are you allowing Him to change you?

 

4. Nobody needs to refuse to give THANKS in their heart. Let Jesus take control of your life and make you whole! (Luke 17:15–16) – “And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.”

 

Sadly, man thinks that God will overlook his sin and weigh his good deeds against the bad. What a terrible mistake! Do you know somebody who believes that way?

 

Conclusion: We must consistently evaluate our motives for why we do what we do. Are we serving Jesus just because we want to “make a deal”? Hopefully not. Anyway, make sure you respond the same way the one GRATEFUL leper did when he returned to worship and praise Jesus Christ.