Thankfulness verses 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. (Luke 17:15-16, NIV)

When we read the Bible we see many references to the words and subjects of gratitude and thanksgiving. At first glance and thought they may seem to be the very same, but they are different. Gratitude is a feeling while thankfulness is an action. We are grateful to God for numerous things: his ways, his love, his character, his blessings, his grace and mercy, his many healings, deliverance, help and protection. But unless our gratitude manifests into an activity of our heart and or being, it remains feelings of gratefulness and does not become thankfulness.

When Jesus healed the ten lepers all ten were grateful to be healed, however only one leper turned his feeling of gratitude into praise and thankfulness. Jesus said, I see one has returned praising but where are the other nine? (vs17-19) When someone does something good or nice to us we feel gratitude in our heart, and want to do something nice for them in return. When God does something wonderful to or for us, blesses us in some way, we should not only feel gratitude in our heart, but take our gratitude to the next level and allow it to manifest into an activity of our heart and life. Let’s Pray

What a perfect day, Lord, to remember that the gratitude we feel in our heart should also become acts of thankfulness. May we truly become thankful people. Amen

Reflective Questions for Soul-Tending:

On this perfect day for feeling gratitude in your heart, how will you allow gratitude to manifest to become an activity of thankfulness?

How will you incorporate today’s message into your plan of soul-care?