The Best Way to Thank God

It was one of those rare occasions where I was exceptionally early for an appointment. I was a guest on the Donna Patrick radio show and our topic of discussion was praise and worship. Before I left, I found some of the blogs and messages I had already written on praise, but during my waiting time I prayed God would show me something new.

So I pulled out my Bible and the Holy Spirit directed me to Luke 17:11-19, the story of the ten lepers.

In this healing account, Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem, traveling along the border between Samaria and Galilee when ten lepers met him. “They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, ‘Jesus, Master have pity on us!’”

Jesus did have pity on them, healing all ten lepers, but only one came back and thanked him.

I have written about this passage and about the importance of thanking Jesus for answered prayers. I have encouraged our readers to be like the leper who returned, but yesterday, I realized I missed something important.

When God answers our prayers, thanking him should be an act of worship.

The leper who returned didn’t just wave at Jesus and give him a thumbs up.

Scripture says he came back, “praising God in a loud voice.”

“He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him­­—“

“and he was a Samaritan.”

Samaritans were Jews who intermarried and according to The MacArthur Bible Commentary, “The Samaritans withdrew from the worship of Yahweh at Jerusalem and established their worship at Mount Gerizim in Samaria.” Because of this, the Jews considered them heretical.

So maybe that’s why the Samaritan leper was especially grateful Jesus took notice.

He shouted his praise.

In an act of humility, he threw himself at Jesus’ feet.

This wasn’t just any thank you, the leper humbled himself in Jesus’ presence and worshiped him.

How many times have we humbly planted ourselves on our face, or fell to our knees in the midst of hardship, praying for God’s mercy on our lives?

How many times have we pleaded with God for an answer to a prayer?

But when he miraculously created a solution, how often have we assumed the same position of humble worship, prostrate, in thanksgiving?

After the one leper came back to thank Jesus through worship, Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?”

“Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?”

The Samaritan leper returned to give God praise. It was more than a simple thank you. It was worship.

The next time you receive an answer to your prayer, will you not only remember to thank God, but will you praise and worship him for the answer? Will you shout out about the greatness of God and fall at his feet in gratitude?

Will you thank him with the same intensity with which you asked?

Sometimes a simple thank you is just not enough.