Everyone knows it, few do it but it could change your life

The secret to life, the secret to success, the secret to genuine contentment, the secret to making the most of life happens when we choose gratitude over complaining. Most know the importance of gratitude; however, few actually get to that place.

In Luke 17:11-19 Jesus has compassion on ten lepers and says go show yourself to the priests (who made the call of those healed). It says that as they went they were healed or cleansed. I imagine a discussion was happening, “hey look at you, your complexion is clearing up,” “guys these lesions have gone from me, color is returning.” Their greatest hope was becoming a reality and one of them returned to Jesus and it says loudly glorified God. This wasn’t some solemn “we thank thee, oh Lord,” it wasn’t some shallow “thanks” either. He was fired up, passionate gratitude was happening.

Jesus says “your faith has made you well.” All of them were healed physically, but this Samaritan was healed spiritually, emotionally, salvation had come to him (leprosy affected a lot more then just the physical).

Faith grows in the soil of gratitude. You want stronger faith, start thinking of all the things for which you could give thanks. We are not talking about a shallow thanks your parents made you give when people gave you a gift. Rather heartfelt praise to a gracious God who has done so much. Notice Jesus asks the question “where are the other nine? were there not ten healed.

“I would come back to give thanks,” or would we?

As I look at the generation of Israelites that saw the most dramatic miracles of God…the plagues, the fire by night, pillar of cloud by day, the parting of the red sea, the manna and how was their attitude? I can’t help think these people would be filled with the most gratitude, after all God had taken them out of the bondage of Egypt. I would think they would have the strongest faith because they clearly saw the hand of God. Yet we see a constant whining, complaining, mmmmuuuurrrrrmmmmuuuuurrrrring. Numbers 11:1 says they complained and God HEARD IT, and was displeased.

I am not sure we often think about the fact that God hears our complaining. Imagine your kids whining and complaining to you all the time, you wouldn’t like it….it would grate on you. Replace you, imperfect parent, with perfect God and it is all the more insulting. I heard one minister say the average person complains twenty times a day. The apostle Paul writes that in the last days there is going to be a prominent self centeredness and unthankfulness that will define that time, having a form of godliness but denying its power (2 Timothy 3:1-7). That tells me that we may know we are to live with gratitude but most choose to not walk in it.

We choose our attitudes. As one said “gratitude is the attitude, that sets the altitude for living.” If we can get this truth in our hearts it could revolutionize our life. We could literally reach a greater depth of peace, joy, contentment, and intimacy with God we have yet to attain. Most aren’t going that direction, but how about you….want to make the trek?

I Want to invite you to Cornerstone over this Christmas, we are going to take a fresh look into the Christmas story. I know you are saying “I have heard it a thousand times already.” Like this dead, lifeless tradition we keep. This year is going to be different! Come and join us for our new series “Christmas Alive.” It is a powerful, life transforming story of good news….we need to hear.