Don’t see the audio player? Click here.
Dr. Robert Emmonds, an authority on gratitude in North America, says based on his research, gratitude is the best approach to life. He says when we take all the credit for the good things we enjoy, it is hard to feel thankful toward others. Jesus made that point long ago. We read in Luke Chapter 17, “As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ He looked at them and said, ‘Go show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, ‘Praise God!’ He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking Him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan. Jesus asked him, ‘Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?’ Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has healed you.”The grateful Samaritan received what the others did not. God delights in grateful people. We read in Psalm 50:23, “He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.” When we are grateful to God and others, we unclog the channel for our own blessings.
