DCLM Daily Manna 1 August 2024 Devotional By Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — “Lost In The Sea Of Ingratitude”
TOPIC: “Lost In The Sea Of Ingratitude” (DCLM Daily Manna 1 August 2024)
KEY VERSE: “And Jesus answering said, 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).
TEXT: Luke 17:12-19 (KJV)
12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.
MESSAGE:
The Encyclopaedia of Bible illustrations featured an anecdote that runs thus: “A clergyman included in his annual report the item “Nine persons lost at sea.” When the congregation expressed shock and amazement, he said, “Well, eleven persons requested prayers for those going to sea, and only two asked me to give thanks for a safe return, so I assume that the other nine were lost at sea.”
Those who fail to return to thank God for mercies or benefits received from Him are like the nine persons “lost at sea” and the nine unthankful lepers. Being thankful is a characteristic of people who have been transformed by grace while the Bible identifies ingratitude as a significant feature of unconverted people. In our text, ten lepers approached Jesus for healing, and He instructed them to go and show themselves to the priests who would examine and confirm their healing. As they obeyed Christ, they discovered they were cleansed. Right then, one returned to thank Jesus, whereas the remaining nine were more upbeat about seeing the priest and their restoration to the community.
Most of us are not thankful for ordinary or extraordinary favours we receive from God. The nine unthankful, cleansed lepers represent people who receive daily blessings from God without gratitude. Thanksgiving could be in the form of singing praises, giving service, testimony or our substance to God.
Every living soul ought to thank God, especially the redeemed of the Lord. We should thank Him for His divine presence, the answer to our prayers, unmerited benefits, provision and preservation. Above all, we can show our gratitude to God by surrendering ourselves and committing our possessions to His work.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY
A thankful heart always attracts tank-full blessings.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
John 1-3
Deeper Life Daily Manna was written by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
