Several Sundays ago, I was asked to speak on the subject of thanksgiving. The Holy Spirit, led me to Luke 17 verses 11 to 19. This is quite a familiar story among Christians. The text tells the short story of ten lepers who begged Jesus for mercy. They were then instructed by Jesus to show themselves to the priests. While they were going there, they discovered that they were healed. Sadly, only one of them returned to thanks Jesus, and he was a Samaritan.
As a firm believer in the full exposition of Scripture, I dug deeper into the words used in the text. Among the words that interest me was the Greek word for "Thanks." The Greek word used is the word "eucharisteo" where we get our word for "Eucharist." This word is the same word used by Christ, whenever the Gospel tells us that Christ gave thanks for a meal. This is almost always the same word used by the Apostle Paul when writes his opening statements in his epistles.
Eucharisteo can basically be broken down into two words. "Eu" to mean good or well and "charis" which means to favor, thank or to respond to a good favor. This word is also used as the verb form of "favor" or "Charis" in Greek. Often, the word "Charis" is translated as "Grace" in English.
Looking back at the story and the greek words used, you can clearly see the message that the message that our Lord is trying to convey here. The Lepers were asking for "Mercy" but only one leper got "Grace."
Oftentimes we interchange "Mercy" for "Grace." We usually think that they mean the same thing. However take note that there is a difference between them. Mercy is not getting what you deserve. Grace on the other hand is getting what you don't deserve. Because we are sinners, we deserve to go to Hell. But because God is merciful, we are spared from the punishment of eternal damnation. Recieving the gift of eternal life on the other hand could only come because of grace. We do not deserve forgiveness of sin nor do we deserve eternal life, nevertheless we received it because of God's GRACE.
Ephesians chapter 2 verse 8 and 9 says that "For by Grace are you saved through faith, it is the gift of God, not works lest any man should boast" The gift spoken of here is "Saving faith." In other words even the faith to believe is given to us by God because by ourselves alone we do not have the ability to believe God by Faith. All we have is natural faith. What we need in order to know Christ is "supernatural faith."
We should be thankful to God for giving us "Supernatural faith." Certainly it is not because of our own natural ability that we have the faith to believe in Jesus Christ and what he did for us. We believe in him because we have been given the faith to believe.
Because he realized that he was given this unmerited favor, the Samaritan Leper was so thankful that he "turned back and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks"
The Bible says that Jesus asked him saying, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? There are none found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger."
This is the part that I love the most, Jesus furhters tells him to "Arise; go thy way. Thy faith hath made thee whole." In effect, He was saying to the Samaritan Leper "Your faith has saved you."
Truly, the Samaritan Leper got more than what he asked for. He asked for mercy but he got grace instead and with that salvation. Being truly thankful is certainly is worth it !
As a firm believer in the full exposition of Scripture, I dug deeper into the words used in the text. Among the words that interest me was the Greek word for "Thanks." The Greek word used is the word "eucharisteo" where we get our word for "Eucharist." This word is the same word used by Christ, whenever the Gospel tells us that Christ gave thanks for a meal. This is almost always the same word used by the Apostle Paul when writes his opening statements in his epistles.
Eucharisteo can basically be broken down into two words. "Eu" to mean good or well and "charis" which means to favor, thank or to respond to a good favor. This word is also used as the verb form of "favor" or "Charis" in Greek. Often, the word "Charis" is translated as "Grace" in English.
Looking back at the story and the greek words used, you can clearly see the message that the message that our Lord is trying to convey here. The Lepers were asking for "Mercy" but only one leper got "Grace."
Oftentimes we interchange "Mercy" for "Grace." We usually think that they mean the same thing. However take note that there is a difference between them. Mercy is not getting what you deserve. Grace on the other hand is getting what you don't deserve. Because we are sinners, we deserve to go to Hell. But because God is merciful, we are spared from the punishment of eternal damnation. Recieving the gift of eternal life on the other hand could only come because of grace. We do not deserve forgiveness of sin nor do we deserve eternal life, nevertheless we received it because of God's GRACE.
Ephesians chapter 2 verse 8 and 9 says that "For by Grace are you saved through faith, it is the gift of God, not works lest any man should boast" The gift spoken of here is "Saving faith." In other words even the faith to believe is given to us by God because by ourselves alone we do not have the ability to believe God by Faith. All we have is natural faith. What we need in order to know Christ is "supernatural faith."
We should be thankful to God for giving us "Supernatural faith." Certainly it is not because of our own natural ability that we have the faith to believe in Jesus Christ and what he did for us. We believe in him because we have been given the faith to believe.
Because he realized that he was given this unmerited favor, the Samaritan Leper was so thankful that he "turned back and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks"
The Bible says that Jesus asked him saying, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? There are none found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger."
This is the part that I love the most, Jesus furhters tells him to "Arise; go thy way. Thy faith hath made thee whole." In effect, He was saying to the Samaritan Leper "Your faith has saved you."
Truly, the Samaritan Leper got more than what he asked for. He asked for mercy but he got grace instead and with that salvation. Being truly thankful is certainly is worth it !
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Zigfred Diaz writes on making cash online, SEO, investments, financial planning, and other great topics. He is currently competing in the Busby SEO Test contest. Check out his blog today at www.zdiaz.com
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