Where Are The 9?; Don't Be An Ingrate

In Luke 17:17, Jesus asked, "Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine?" when the Samaritan ex-leper came back to give thanks for his healing. There are times you wake up and you don't feel like praising or thanking God. At such times just look what David did in Psalm 103:3-5; he didn't feel like praising but he began to think on the things God had done for him, engaging his mind, intellect and will and before you knew it, the praises had began to flow and he blessed the Lord saying, "Bless the Lord oh my soul...". You sleep and wake up because God sustained you. If you feel pain, it's a blessing too. Some people can't feel pain. Give God thanks in sickness and in health. Thank God for deliverance, for the harm you escaped from.

A dear friend, Pastor and talented pianist has a weird habit of looking at his hands and smiling just before he plays his amazing music. When asked why he did that all the time, he shared this story with us. He used to work with heavy machinery on an oil rig. One day, he was working with a really massive machine and his palms was resting on the platform while he watched the machine working and towering above. He was suddenly felt a need to remove his hands and he did only to watch in shock as the top of the machine snapped and heavy metal landed where his hand hands had been resting. This happened in a split second after he removed his hands. If he hadn't removed his hands, both would have been chopped off instantly. He said he knew immediately that he had just experienced a miraculous deliverance by God. Every time he was about to play the piano, he would look at his hands and thank God for that miracle.

Now, that's a wonderful way to remain grateful! The Psalmist said in Psalm 34:1, "I will bless the Lord at all times and his praises shall continually be in my mouth", you can only do this when you take time to constantly remember all the good things God has done for you. There are a number of impediments to gratitude and I would mention a few;

The attitude of gratitude will always stand you out. Your gratitude can either be for what has been done already or what you have found written in the word of God. Once you find that truth, it is as good as done! You can't be grateful and be quiet about it. The leper came back, thanking Jesus with a loud voice. You are not grateful enough if people around you don't notice it. Gratitude is an attitude that should be a virtue in your life, not an event. It is an attitude that comes out of a habit of thanksgiving.

From today, resolve that you will have the attitude of gratitude regardless of what is happening in your life. Gratitude pleases God better than your physical offering (Psalm 69:30-31).