Based on Luke 17:11-19

MEMORY TEXT:  “O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon His name: make known His deeds among the people” (Psalm 105:1).

It is hard to imagine that the ten men who were sick together and healed together could not have given thanks together!  When their families welcomed them home, they must have asked how it was that they had been healed; and the men must have responded that it was Jesus who healed them.  Did they remember then that they hadn’t even said thank you?

Jesus Himself must have been saddened by their neglect, because He asked, “Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?  There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger” (Luke 17:17-18)?  I can sense the disappointment in His voice.  There should not be any doubt that when we are unthankful, it grieves the Lord.  Nothing less than heartfelt praise and thanks is fitting when we consider what Jesus has done for us.

One day a woman who was seeking to get right with God said to Charles Spurgeon, the famous 19th century preacher, “If Jesus ever saves me, He will never hear the end of it.”  What she meant was that she would never cease to thank Jesus for what He had done for her.  We should all feel that way.

Two old friends bumped into one another on the street one day.  One of them looked forlorn, almost on the verge of tears.  His friend asked, "What has the world done to you, my old friend?"

The sad fellow said, "Let me tell you.  Three weeks ago, my great-aunt whom I hardly knew passed away.  I inherited almost 100 million dollars.”  His friend replied, "That’s a lot of money."

The sad friend continued, "Then, two weeks ago, a cousin I never even knew died, and left me eighty-five thousand free and clear."

"Sounds like you’ve been blessed."

"You don’t understand!" he interrupted.  "Last week an uncle died and left me forty thousand dollars."

Now the other friend was really confused.  "Then, why do you look so glum?"

The sad friend replied, "This week... nothing!"

“It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto Thy name, O most High” (Psalm 92:1).