Giving Thanks, a Christmas Adventure – Day Four

 

We saw yesterday that only one leper turned back to acknowledge the Source of the blessing, and in verse nineteen Jesus said this grateful one displayed faith that made him whole. Some of your translations will say his faith saved him. What about the other nine? Where they only healed physically, not spiritually? The Bible doesn’t say, so neither can we. But it would seem the nine came away knowing of Jesus while the one grateful leper secured his faith by acknowledging Him. Showing his gratitude by acknowledging the Source of the gift— Jesus said this is what made the grateful one whole and brought glory to God.

We’d do well to camp here in this continuing choice between acknowledging God by conceding to His rule and giving Him thanks, or acknowledging ourselves by refusing. For it is the ongoing choice and titanic challenge of every believer. Proverbs 3:5, In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.

In all my ways. Here it is again, the “count it all joy challenge.” We can acknowledge that He is here when all is well, but Living Thanksgiving, authentic eucharisteō, means we acknowledge Him when all is not good.  How? How do we do that?

I believe our first clue can be found here in the garden of Eden. Eve fell prey to believing she deserved more, something other than what she had. We’re always facing the same tempting voice. The garden scene is Satan unmasked, a clear picture of the enemy’s modus operandi. Satan is always trying to seduce us with the idea that we don’t deserve this, but we do deserve that.

Maybe it’s a better financial situation we think we deserve, but the temptation towards ingratitude, towards more, towards demanding this world acknowledge me doesn’t always have to do with material things. It can be our feeling that we deserve more appreciation from someone we feel we’ve given to time and again. Maybe it’s a higher position, more authority in the church. Maybe it’s a life without so much pain, trouble from our kids, frustration from our spouses, heartache from all sides. Regardless, our enemy woos us with the same tune he sung in the garden, “You deserve more!” The truth is, harsh as this may sound. We don’t deserve anything—not even when we’ve done all we’re commanded to do. Jesus said as much in the same chapter of Luke.

So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” Luke 17:10

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