Dear Christian friends:

When we are kind to a person and help him, we expect him to thank us and in the future to show kindness to us. Sometimes people thank us and pay back kindness to us. We are happy about that. But often people fail to thank us and in the future are not kind to us and we are disappointed.

But thanking another man is not the same as thanking God. Most people fail to thank God who is the real Giver of all life and blessings. That Jesus shows in our text. Here is a very terrible and shameful story. I wish we were not like these nine men in the text, but it is true. Our hearts do not easily thank God. So today I want to preach to you about:

Those who fail to thank God show that they do not believe in Him. (Tell the story of the Ten Lepers how shamefully they did.) Nine men did not understand that God healed them. Thought it happened - We suffered long enough - We are worthy to be healed - The one by coming back showed that he understood who helped him and healed him. He also knew that He was not worthy of such blessings and by coming back He offered his healed body for God's service and use. Nine did not offer themselves to serve God and do His wishes. They went their own way using their bodies and life in selfish pleasures and sin.

So unbelievers do today. They are blind to God and fail to see His kind blessing everyday: Think God owes that to them. Complain if they lose these blessings. No rain for two months. Sick! Why?

In time of trouble they cry and pray to God for help like these nine and promise they will be good and always serve Him if He helps them. But after God helps them and saves them they quickly forget God. (Tell of man at tuberculosis sanitarium near Springfield, Illinois.) Also they may belong to a church, but they do not in their heart thank God for their church or their pastors and teachers.

They have Bibles but they do not value their Bibles and read or study them. They may go to church often, but in their hearts they are not eager and they complain because they must give money to support God's work. Not only do they fail to thank God for all His many blessings, but they even use these blessings to sin and displease God. How do they use their healthy bodies? To break the 6th Commandment!

Very shameful and terrible is man's heart and ways before God. He serves the devil and not God. Unbelievers never thank God.

How about the believers? They are like the one leper who understood that Jesus healed him and hurried back to thank God. They also offer their bodies and life to serve God and do His will.

If you are a true believer in Jesus Christ you can't fail to thank God. You know He is your Maker and Keeper, and you will often pray to Him, praise Him and thank Him. Your favorite Psalm will be Psalm 103:1-5, like Dr. Salvner, "Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's."

If you are a Christian you do not need sickness to teach you the blessing of health or floods or fire, war or an auto accident to make you wake up and understand that God is your Keeper. You will know that without such terrible happenings.

I do not mean that a Christian perfectly thanks God. No! He is far from perfect. He often forgets and many times and ways is like the unbeliever. He, too, often complains about troubles and problems and fails to see God's many blessings and forgets to Honor Him and thank Him.

But in one way the believer is different from the unbeliever. He knows and confesses that He is a sinner and he fells very sad and ashamed and sorry because he fails to thank God. He daily prays to God for forgiveness of sins and longs for God's Holy Spirit to change him and help him thank and serve God better.

He feels ashamed and sad when he does not live as a child of God, His dear heavenly Father. He waits for the day when he will go to heaven and be free from all sin and temptation and perfectly thank and praise God.

So if you do not yet feel sorry and ashamed. If you do not desire to thank and serve God. Remember: if you do not thank Him and serve Him here on earth; then you will also not be able to thank Him in heaven, but will find yourself separated from God with the devil in hell. Better wake up.

You, who do thank God and who try hard and fight against temptation to serve Him on earth, don't give up your fight! Pray everyday. Learn from the Bible how to thank God and serve Him on earth. And remember: quickly your fight here will end and you will see God and thank Him perfectly and beautifully. In His presence (place) you will find full joy. At His right hand you will have eternal pleasures.

Amen.