We live in a truly blessed nation.

Even though it may seem like our nation is falling apart at the seams, we are still afforded many freedoms and our physical needs, such as food and water, are easily met. Our lives aren’t at risk when we leave our homes, we don’t have to hide to worship Jesus, and we can easily go to our local supermarket for food and water. We rarely want for anything.

When I see countries like Afghanistan with people living in fear for their lives, I realize how blessed we are. When I hear of children sold into slavery in Pakistan just so the parents can have money to eat, I am humbled that I can easily provide for my son. When I hear of churches in China hiding underground to worship their savior, I’m heartbroken that these brothers and sisters aren’t free to worship as they please.

We have it easy compared to these nations.

Now don’t get me wrong. I see the suffering in our nation. I see the homeless on the streets and the single parents struggling to feed their children. But I believe the difference in our nation is that we have the wealth and the ability to make a difference in these areas. Other countries live in such poverty that there is no way out for them.

The point is that it is so easy for us to become complacent and not see the work of God all around us—even in those struggling nations.

In Luke 17, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem when He enters a village with 10 men who have leprosy. These men asked Jesus to pity them and He did. Jesus told them to go to the priests and show themselves to the priests as was the custom of Mosaic Law (Leviticus 14).

On the way to see the priests, all 10 men were instantly healed. One of them was so excited and grateful. He ran back to Jesus and threw himself at His feet and thanked Him.  Carefully read the words of Jesus:

Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” (Luke 17:17-18)

The man who returned was a Samaritan, an outcast to the Jewish people. Matthew Henry’s Commentary states it best:

“Christ took notice of this one that had distinguished himself: for it seems, he was a Samaritan whereas the rest were Jews. The Samaritans were separatists from the Jewish church, and had not the pure knowledge and worship of God among them that the Jews had, and yet it was one of them that glorified God, when the Jews forgot.” (pg. 1887)

The Jews were accustomed to worshipping God and were familiar with the miracles that God had performed for the Jewish people since the beginning of time. Yet, these 9 Jewish men forgot to thank God for healing them from a horrible disease that made them outcasts.

What do we have in common with the Jews who forgot to glorify God? We too forget to thank God for the miracles He gives us every day.

I don’t know about you, but I’m quick to worship God when something I wanted or asked for happens. I glorify and thank Him and speak of His goodness. But what about the other nine? What about the times He provides for my family, gives us food and shelter daily, and allows me to go to church and worship? Why is it so easy to complain about how bad everything is without seeing how blessed we are by God every day?

Make a list of 10 blessings God has given to you this past week. I’ll start your list for you. Did He wake you up each and every day? Did you have food to eat each day? Include answered prayers on your list. If you are having a hard time finding 10 blessings for the week, you may need to pay a little more attention to the work of God around you and think outside the box you have God placed in.

Now review your list. How many of those 10 blessings did you thank and glorify God for personally? Did you praise him for 1 and not the other 9?

Many years ago a devotional spoke to my heart. If you woke up today and only had what you thanked God for yesterday, what would you have today? At that time, I would have had nothing. I made it a point to change my prayer life from a “give me” list to a “thank you” list mixed with my requests.

Don’t be like the 9 who refused to thank and acknowledge God for blessing them abundantly. Be on the lookout for the small miracles that we aren’t always as aware of.

James 1:17 tells us “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who do does not change like the shifting shadows.” Don’t forget that God provides for His children. All of our needs are met by Him. Don’t become complacent and not thank God for the small things that He blesses us with. As our world has shown us, these things can easily be taken from us and the security that we know can easily be wiped away.

The one constant is God. He says in Deuteronomy 31:6, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Don’t be one of the 9 who failed to thank Jesus for blessing them. Be the 1 who stopped to glorify the Lord even in his excitement.