Saying Thank You

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Saying Thank You

Rev. Luke Powell

You've heard my voice enough for a while, I think! So this week I want to feature an old sermon by mentor Reverend Derek Wilson, preached at Trinity Community Church back in April 2004, when I was in the 8th grade. I have the old cassette tape of the sermon, and it is so good. We're going to be blessed by this, this week.

Let's listen:

The Ten Lepers and the One Who Returned

One of the most poignant stories in the New Testament you'll find in Luke's Gospel in chapter 17. It's the story of the ten lepers. This ex-leper falls at Jesus's feet and he touches Him and he says, thank you.

What does Jesus do? He reaches out His hand and helps him to his feet. But then you can hear the hurt in His voice where He says, "There were ten of you. Where are the other nine? What happened to the other nine?"

And you know what, folks? The difference is: the ten were cleansed. One was blessed! Because Jesus says to this one man that comes back - it says there, "Rise and go. Your faith has made you well."

More Than Physical Healing

Wellness is not just physical. That one person who took the trouble to come back and say thank you is the one who got blessed. Not everybody comes back to say thank you. And I find that sad, I find that sad. Because we miss out on the joy! All we've got to do is say thank you.

You know, parents have a question they ask their children - every generation of parent since the beginning of time has asked this of their own children. My parents asked me, I have asked my kids, and no doubt they will ask their children. You know what that question is? "What do you say?"

"What do you say?" Somebody gives you a gift and your mother says, "What do you say? What do you say?" There's only one response to that, isn't it? "Thank you."

Imagine if you didn't say thank you. And you said, "Aunt Ethel, what a wonderful gift. This lovely purple dress with bright orange spots and a green skirt. What a wonderful gift, Aunt Ethel!" Do you think that your parents would reckon that's the right answer? Imagine if you said, "Aunt Ethel, I think you should be committed for giving a dress like this! That's the worst thing I've ever seen in my life!" Do you think your parents would be happy with it? All they want you to do is say thank you! It doesn't matter what your heart says - you just got to say thank you!

Gratitude That Comes from the Heart

That's not the way to do it. If you're only supposed to say thank you, but it doesn't come out from somewhere deep inside you, then forget it.

And I think that that needs to be the way in which we come into worship, the way we come into God's presence - not just in worship, but it needs to be our interaction with God on a daily basis. This incredible sense of gratitude for this one life that makes all life possible.

So today, a simple lesson: go to God and say a heartfelt thank you for what He's done for you. And you will be blessed!

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