Thanksgiving is personal and to the Lord

Luke 17:11-19

A hiker was lost for some days deep in the woods of a national park. Later, in describing the experience, he told how frightened he was and how he had even finally knelt and prayed asking God for help to find the way out. A new reporter asked, “Did God answer your prayer?” “Oh, no,” the man replied. “Before God had a chance, a ranger found me, called in the rescue chopper, and here I am, safe and sound, and so happy to get back to my life!”

Our text today about Jesus healing the ten lepers reflects some of that mindset, and it begs the questions, “What is thankfulness?” And “to whom should we be thankful?” But it digs deeper still, and presses us with, “Ultimately, are we the source of, and do we really bring anything in and of ourselves to the table at all?” And even further, “Where is our hope and joy and satisfaction found?”