Being ungrateful is a sin which cause a person to lose God’s blessings as we can see from the following scriptures

Dear friends, welcome to „Daily Word for Spiritual Edification”!

I think that we have been talking about a very vital topic – having a grateful heart. We saw why it is important to grow in gratitude and practise thanksgiving.

1. Being grateful is God’s will for us.
2. Gratitude keeps the channel of God’s favour open.
3. Gratitude makes our minds open and bright.
4. Gratitude helps us conform into the image of Christ.
5. Gratitude makes us close to God.
6. Being able to thank God for everything is an expression of our faith and trust in love and care of our Heavenly Father.
7. Grateful heart is a victory over haughtiness and pride.

Based on all of the above we can see that being ungrateful is a sin which cause a person to lose God’s blessings as we can see from the following scriptures:

«Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices, and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, „Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”» (Luke, 17:11-19).

Before the miracle of healing happened, ten lepers begged to help them (verse 13). We often are ready to promise anything and everything when our life lies in the hands of someone else. When serious problems come into our lives we often run to God or people for help and beg them to intervene. Have you ever promised God that if He did this miracle in your life you would dedicate your life to Him? I think many of us have done that. But even more often when God does what we asked Him to do, it leads us away from Him. God gives you prosperity and now taking care of the things hinder you from serving Him. God gives you a husband or a wife and now you don’t have time to love God with all of your heart, your strength and might.

That is exactly what happened to these lepers from Gospel of Luke. When they were ill, they called out to God and bowed before Jesus begging to show mercy. After they received their miracle from God, only one of them came back to Jesus to thank Him and give glory to God. Jesus was astonished and said: «But where are the nine? » Jesus expected all of them to have come back and give glory to the Father; yet when they received their miracle, they forgot the Source of it.

How many times did you call out to God this week? What about this month, this year? You called out to Him and He answered. Do not repeat the mistake of these 9 Israelites that were healed from leprosy but forgot to thank God for it! Give thanks to God for all things!

«Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s» (Psalm, 103:1-5).

You were ill; you were depressed; you were lonely; you were pressed from all sides; you were in need, and you called out to God. He heard you and turned your tragedy into triumph. Now is the time to stop and give glory and thanks to God for His wonderful works!

I wish you abundant God’s blessings!
Pastor Rufus Ajiboye