Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
February 28, 2023
Read Luke 17:12-19
12 As he entered a village, ten men with skin diseases approached him. Keeping their distance from him, 13 they raised their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, show us mercy!” 14 When Jesus saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” As they left, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw that he had been healed, returned and praised God with a loud voice. 16 He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. He was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus replied, “Weren’t ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 No one returned to praise God except this foreigner?” 19 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up and go. Your faith has healed you.”
Good Morning, It is right, and a good and joyful thing to give thanks to God!
Give thanks with a grateful heart. Give thanks to the Holy one.
Give thanks, because he’s given Jesus Christ, his Son.
Give thanks with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One;
give thanks, because he’s given Jesus Christ, his Son.
Do you remember a time when you thanked someone for something without gratitude in your heart? Perhaps you felt the gift or offer of services was inappropriate. I remember many years ago when we were just beginning our journey as a clergy family. We arrived for a Christmas service and meal. The members had gathered gifts for each of us. We had not expected this, so it was very sweet. However, their gifts for our sons were not age appropriate. They were for much younger children. Our sons thanked them for their thoughtfulness, but were they really grateful?
As a parent, it is challenging to help our children grasp the meaning that giving is better than receiving. This morning, I wonder if we, as adults, can also struggle with this. God blesses us with grace, love, joy, hope, peace, and eternal life, but are we satisfied? Do we wish that God would answer all our prayers immediately? Do we pray that God will allow us to do what we want to do whenever we want without difficulty? Do we want to choose the direction in which God will lead us?
Hmmm! Help us, O Lord! We, your children, are broken! We distance ourselves from God when we try to do things on our own. God is waiting to be with us and to help us. All we need to do is to call out to Him. Recall your childhood training to be a grateful recipient of gifts. Take time each day to thank God even when you’re not sure if the gift you receive is really intended for you. It is okay to ask God questions. God knows the answers to the questions we don’t even know we need to ask.
And now let the weak say, ‘I am strong’,
let the poor say, ‘I am rich’,
because of what the Lord has done for us;
and now let the weak say, ‘I am strong’,
let the poor say, ‘I am rich,'
because of what the Lord has done for us.
Give thanks…
Gracious God, Thank You for being with us. You bless us. We thank you! Help us accept gifts we don’t understand with a grateful heart. Thank you! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Gratitude brings me closer to God.
Receive your gift with gratitude! Pastor Liz