Forest Hills Baptist Church

Bringing glory to God by contending for His truth, multiplying servants of Jesus Christ, and caring for one another.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • New Here?
  • Connect
    • Hub Groups
    • Kids
    • Students
    • 1829
    • Wednesday Family Nights
    • Men
    • Women
    • Missions
    • ESL Conversation Class
    • Olivia’s Gift
  • About
    • Leadership
    • Beliefs
    • Service Times
    • Location
  • Resources
    • Live Stream
    • Sermons
    • RightNow Media
    • Documents and Forms
  • Give
  • The Path
  • Contact

The Test of Gratitude

November 26, 2017 1 Comment

Walking in the sand

This is a holiday weekend that is centered on giving thanks. As believers, we have a general sense that we ought to give thanks for what we have and recognize that every good gift comes from the Father. But Jesus taught that gratitude was the identifying mark of every person who responds to the gospel.

As Jesus was traveling to Jerusalem he passed through an area of mixed ethnicity and encountered ten lepers. There was no cure for leprosy. These individuals had a death sentence and they were ostracized from society. Normally Jews and Samaritans did not associate with one another. But these individuals were bound together by their desperate plight. They called out to Jesus to be healed.

Jesus would heal them – but in a unique way. He instructed them to go present themselves to the priests (as the law required). And so they left Jesus in faith and they were healed as they traveled along the way. One of the implications of this arrangement was that they had to exert effort to express their gratitude to Jesus. They couldn’t simply mutter a quick “Thanks!” They had to retrace their steps to find Jesus. And of course, this is where the paths of the ten lepers diverge. Only one of them returns to give thanks. The other nine promptly forget about Jesus and resume their normal life. Jesus extends a powerful pronouncement over this one. “Rise and go your way; your faith has saved you.” All of ten of these lepers were healed of their leprosy. But only this one was saved from his sins. And this one was a Samaritan – an outsider.

There is a subtle danger for those who have grown up in the church. We can become desensitized to grace. The sobering reality is that pagan outsiders are often more sensitive to the grace, beauty and power of Christ than we who have heard of Him all our days. What does your pattern of gratitude say about your relationship to Jesus? Will you retrace your steps and take your place at the feet of Jesus today?

Pastor Jeff

 

Photo credit: http://maxpixel.freegreatpicture.com/Hot-Footprints-Dry-Barren-Outdoors-Desert-Arid-1850865

Share this:

  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)

Filed Under: Pastor Jeff's Weekly Tagged With: grace, Gratitude, Thanksgiving

What to expect when you visit FHBC

FHBC Worship Team
We welcome you to join us for either of our services, and to come as you are!
Learn more about the atmosphere and worship service style at FHBC »

Comments

  1. Amy T. says

    November 26, 2017 at 1:08 pm

    I enjoyed your Facebook live sermon this morning about Esther! ❤️ And miss our FHBC Family.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Watch / Listen Online

Podcast and Live Video Stream

The Path

The Path – Forest Hills Baptist Church

An online community where church members can connect with other church members, groups, events, and calendars.

Log on to The Path »

About FHBC

  • New Here?
  • Service Times
  • Our Faith
  • Our Leadership
  • Our Mission

Members

  • The Path
  • Online Giving
  • Photo Directory

COVID Guidelines

As of July 18, 2021, we are lifting all COVID guidelines.

Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Forest Hills Baptist Church is a church in Grand Rapids, MI that focuses on gospel-centered teaching, worship, spiritual growth in the context of community, and reaching the world with the good news of Jesus Christ.

Forest Hills Baptist Church · 3900 E Fulton St, Grand Rapids, MI 49546
Copyright © 2023 · Log in