“One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’s feet and thanked Him.” (Luke 17:15-16)

Ten men with leprosy stand in the distance and cry out to Jesus for mercy. Jesus tells them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.”

As they go, they’re healed.

Now can you imagine that moment? After years of being isolated, in pain, and separated from family and community, they suddenly realize that their bodies have been restored.

All 10 of them are healed, but only one turns back.

Luke tells us why: “When he saw that he was healed, he came back.” (v.15)

He sees what Jesus has done. It’s gratitude that turns him around.

Instead of continuing down the road, he turns back. He returns to Jesus and he praises God with a loud voice falling at the feet of Jesus and giving thanks.

That’s what gratitude does. It turns us back toward the Giver. It slows us down long enough to recognize that the blessings we enjoy are not accidents.

They’re gifts.

It’s easy to keep moving through life without looking back.
Another day, another responsibility.
Yet another need, and another thing to do.

But thanksgiving invites us to pause and to ask Jesus:
“Where have You carried me?”
“Where have You forgiven me?”
“How have You provided when I didn’t know how things would work out?”
“Where have You brought healing, hope, strength, or peace?”

The man in Luke 17 does not return to earn his healing. He’s already healed. He turns back simply because he recognizes the mercy that Jesus has shown to him.

That’s the heart of gratitude.

If you are already headed toward the next thing today, why don’t you pause this Thanksgiving and let gratitude turn you around?

Turn back toward Jesus.
See what He has done.
And thank Him for His love.

As recipients of God’s mercy through His Son Jesus Christ, we too are invited to see what He has done for us. His grace turns us away from self-sufficiency and back toward the One who has forgiven, provided for, sustained, and saved us.

At Lutheran Church Charities, we are sometimes asked why we travel such great distances to serve in places that are unfamiliar and far from our own homes, places that require time and resources and sacrifice.

And that’s when we have the privilege of saying, “When we see what Jesus has done for us, we can’t help but serve others because He first served us.”

We do not serve in order to earn anything extra.
We serve out of what we have first received.
Together, we see what Christ has done for us.
And we serve others with that same love and compassion He has first shown and given to us.

As we enter the season of Thanksgiving, take time to turn back.
See what Jesus has done.
Thank Him.
Ask Him how your gratitude might become a blessing in the life of someone else.

Sometimes gratitude begins with remembering, and sometimes it means returning to the feet of Jesus in praise.

And sometimes it becomes visible in a simple question: “What can I do to help?”

Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for the mercy You have shown me. Forgive me when I move so quickly through life that I fail to stop and recognize Your goodness. Fill my heart with gratitude and turn me back toward You. Help me to see what You have done, to give thanks for Your grace, and to respond with a life that serves others. In Your name I pray, Amen.

Final Thought
This is the heart behind Lutheran Church Charities’ annual campaign, See & Serve. Compassion is seeing others through the eyes of Christ and serving them with His love.

Over the coming weeks and months, we will share stories from our ministries, devotions, and opportunities to see how God is using Lutheran Church Charities to bring His mercy, compassion, presence, and proclamation to people who are suffering and in need.

ITTT