THE MIRACULOUS POWER IN THANKSGIVING

2025 Has Been The Year of Taking New Territories
As we are all aware, today is Divine Connection Centre (DCC) Family and Thanksgiving Sunday.  David, in Psalm 107:1, had the following to say after reflecting on the Lord’s great works of deliverance:
“Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”
Similarly, as the DCC family, we can with no doubt declare that the Lord has been and is good to us; His mercy has been evident, and we are indebted to give Him thanks. Our text today is from Luke 17:11-19, about the story of the 10 lepers.
Some Observations About the Story
1. All had a common problem, were leprous, and they cried to Jesus for mercy (v.12-13).
2. All received mercy and were instructed to go and show themselves to the priest, to obtain a certificate of cleansing (v.14).
3. Obedience brought manifestation of God’s power of cleansing (v.14).
4. Only one, a Samaritan (foreigner), saw and returned to Jesus:
 a. With a loud voice, glorified God
     b. Fell down on his face at His feet
     c. Gave thanks
5. Jesus wondered where the nine were after the ten were healed.

5 Lessons to Learn from the 10 Lepers

1.  Faith and obedience come before a miracle –Just like the lepers, we should pray to God by faith and demonstrate faith through actions even before full manifestation of God’s promises. You will receive your miracle as you obey, just like the lepers were healed as they went!
   2. God (and even man) is expectant of our gratitude.The question of Jesus, “Where are the nine?” instead of congratulating the one who returned, indicates that God expects thanks from us. The marvelous works of God should not be mere reliefs but ought to stir up overflowing gratitude in us.
   3. We should be careful to assume entitlement of blessings. The Jews may have taken cleansing for granted, but for the Samaritan, it was real mercy indeed.
   4. Thanksgiving deepens relationships. Thankfulness turns blessings into encounters with God (or the person). The Samaritan received spiritual salvation and wholeness.
   5. Unthankfulness is a great danger. To seek God passionately during crisis but despise gratitude when storms calm reflects spiritual blindness to the source of blessings.
   As a family, let us practice giving thanks to God and to one another.