Seventh-Day Devotional For Children: “Showing Gratitude”

DAILY BREAD: A DEVOTIONAL FOR THE CHILDREN* 

Eastern Nigeria Union Conference Children’s Ministries Department.

Sunday, February 26, 2023.

 *Topic: Showing gratitude.* 

“ _One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.” Luke 17:15,16._ 

Jesus’ ministries were characterized by healing people of their diseases; there was no manner of disease that He did not heal. The bible verses under consideration dealt with Ten men with Leprosy which Jesus healed. Leprosy is contagious, hence people with leprosy were required to stay away from people and to announce their presence if they had to come near. Sometimes lepers would go into remission. If a leper thought his leprosy had gone away, he was supposed to present himself to a priest who could declare him clean (see Leviticus 14).

When the Ten lepers saw Jesus, they cried with a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” Jesus had pity on then and sent them to the priest before they were healed and they went. They responded in faith, and Jesus healed them on the way. These lepers attitude is a challenge to the Christians today. Is your trust in God so strong that you act on what He says even before you see evidence that it will work?

Jesus healed the Ten lepers, but only one returned to thank Him for healing mercy. That was an act of ungratefulness on the part of nine of them. It is possible to receive God’s great gifts with an ungrateful spirit; nine of the healed lepers did so. Only one of the Ten – the thankful one, showed his gratitude for the mercy he received. God does not demand that we thank Him but He is pleased when we do so. And He uses our responsiveness to teach us more about Himself.

Not only was this man grateful for what was done to him, he was also a Samaritan-a race despised by the Jews as idolatrous half-breeds. This is pointing out that God’s grace is for everybody and none should be despised based on nationality, race, color or language, because God created all in His own image and all belong to Him.

 *Thoughts for Reflection* 

Having you being grateful to God for the life you live?

Even when your desires are not met as you wish, do you have reasons to appreciate God?

 *Song* 

To God be the glory, great things He hath done!

So loved He the world that He gave us His son

Who yielded His life an atonement for sin,

And opened the lifegate that all may go in.

 *Refrain* 

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

Let the earth hear His voice!

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord,

Let the people rejoice!

O come to the Father through Jesus the Son,

And give Him the glory, great things He hath done!

 *Prayer* 

I return all glory, honor and adoration to you O Lord for the gift of life and all I am today. You alone made it possible, may your name be forever praised in Jesus name, amen..