Nov 16, 2025.

In Luke 17:11-18, we encounter a powerful story that challenges us to examine our relationship with gratitude. Ten lepers, desperate and dying, cried out to Jesus for mercy. All ten were miraculously healed as they walked in faith toward the priests. Yet only one—a Samaritan, a foreigner—turned back to fall at Jesus' feet in thanksgiving. This striking ratio reveals a sobering truth: the grateful are always in the minority. The message is clear and urgent: be the one. This isn't just about good manners or social etiquette; it's about a spiritual discipline that positions us for greater blessing. The nine received physical healing, but the one who returned received something far more profound—spiritual wholeness and salvation. We're challenged to consider whether we only run to Jesus when life is falling apart, or if we also run to Him when everything is going well. Prosperity can be just as dangerous as poverty if it causes us to forget the One who blessed us. The ingratitude described in 2 Timothy as a sign of the last days isn't found among atheists, but among religious people who have a form of godliness but deny its power. This November, we're invited to redefine Thanksgiving—not as a day centered on turkey and traditions, but as a lifestyle of gratitude that recognizes every good thing comes from God's mercy, not our merit.