“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”
Today's reading — Luke 17:12-19▾
God desires that we express gratitude to Him at all times. This appreciation and gratitude can be expressed through our prayers, praise, and worship. Psalm 100:4 says that we should come before His gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise. In today’s Bible reading, Jesus healed 12 lepers, but only one came back to say ‘Thank you.’ Jesus then asked him, “Where are the other nine?”
The reason many people have not received greater miracles from God is that they have not said ‘Thank you’ for the ones He did for them before. When we were launching the first RCCG branch in Abuja, we held a three- day crusade. Before the crusade began, I was in a hotel, praying that God should perform miracles and that there should be a great outpouring of His presence at the crusade. Suddenly, God said, “Shut up.” I was happy because even though that was a rebuke, I was sure that He could hear me. Then He said, “You keep commanding Me to do things for you. Am I your servant? Have you thanked Me for all the things I did in the past?” I apologised immediately and said, “Lord, I thank You for all You did in the past, but please do more.” Again, He told me to stop. Then, He said, “For the next three days, I don’t want to hear anything from you other than thanksgiving.” It was challenging, but I did it anyway. At the end of the three days, the Lord said, “Son, go home, appoint elders, and let them go around to teach the doctrines of the church to strengthen its foundation, because what you have seen thus far is addition. What you are now about to see is multiplication.” To the glory of God, RCCG has experienced multiplication in Abuja and, indeed, across the world.
Beloved, when you are full of gratitude for what God has done, He will do more like he did for the man who returned to say ‘Thank you’ in today’s Bible reading. Please, do not be counted among the unthankful people of the last days (2 Timothy 3:1-2). If you think deeply, regardless of your situation, you will find several reasons to be thankful to God. Do not wait until the privileges you have taken for granted are taken away before you begin to thank God. He wants you to come before Him with a grateful heart at all times.