People of Praise

Read Luke 17:11-19

So often we are blessed in life - by God and by others. Yet so often our response is just like nine of the ten lepers in Luke 17:11-19. Just as Jesus asked - "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?"

Listen, the one leper who returned realized several things. First, he noticed he was healed. He was suffering and after crying out to Jesus he was healed. He saw a change in his life. In response, the second thing he did was he made a move. He came back and found Jesus to do one thing - praise Him. His act of praise and thanksgiving is something we often miss in our relationship with God. Too often we go about our busy lives missing the blessings of God. Instead we go on and miss what really matters and that's giving thanks to Jesus for what He's done and what He continues to do in our lives each day.

How do you live? Are you like the nine or the one? Too often I'm like the nine and yet I want to be like the one. Giving praise to God is why we exist - so whether we are in the middle of a hurt, habit or hangup, or even if we're in the middle of a blessed time let's remember to be people of praise. Praise is what people of God are to be all about; praising God in good times and bad because we have a Father in Heaven who knows our name, a Father in Heaven who knows our pain, and a Father in Heaven who deserves the fame that is due His Name.