Daily Devotional For Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Good morning Southside! I am following the One Year Chronological Bible reading suggestion and any Bible verses you see highlighted in bold (ex. John 3:16), means it is a link to that verse. All you have to do is click on the reference and it will take you to the verse online. Our daily devotional for today comes from the words of Jesus found in Luke 17:11-19. Luke gives us in this passage the story of 10 lepers that Jesus healed but only one returned to thank Jesus for the healing. One of the scariest and most rare virtues today is gratitude. Consider this story about Alexander Whyte:

“Alexander Whyte, the most eminent Scottish preacher of the nineteenth century, once visited an elderly parishioner who complained at length about everything and everyone. Finally, hat in hand, Whyte rose to bid her good-bye. His only comment was a phrase from Psalm 103:2, “And mind you, forget not all His benefits” (Source: G. F. Barbour, The Life of Alexander Whyte, D.D., p. 365).

Thanklessness is not new to our time. We live in a country where people have been blessed by God with  everything and yet they are still ungrateful. Take for example the boy who had very loving parents and grandparents. He loves soccer and so from the first day he has been able to kick one, they have paid for private lessons, soccer camps, travel games that included hotels and meals. Because his parents had means, they traveled as a family all over America and the world. When he became a middle schooler, they bought him an Apple iPhone (not cheap). Then at 16, they bought him a car. Now he is in an Ivy League college playing soccer. What scholarships do not cover, his parents do. He hasn’t had to work because his parents give him everything. And now as a sophomore in college, he is angry and ungrateful. He feels his parents and family are too controlling and a bother. He appreciates nothing and complains about everything. 

Ungratefulness is a disease that has been here since Adam and Eve. It has infected our culture and even our churches. Some of the worst complainers and fault-finders I know, call themselves Christians. You would never know they were saved or redeemed. A thankless Christian is a contradiction in terms and in reality. Look at:

• Philippians 4:4, “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!” (NLT).
• Romans 1:21, Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship Him as God or even give Him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused” (NLT).
• 2 Timothy 3:2, “For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred” (NLT).
• 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “ Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus” (NLT).
• Psalm 106:1, “Praise the Lord! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever” (NLT).

We are told that these 10 men had leprosy, which was a death sentence back then. Today, it is treatable and curable. If you had leprosy, you were ostracized from the community because of how contagious the disease was and this was base on the Old Testament Law found in Lev. 14:1-32. Lepers would group together in leper colonies for friendship, fellowship and their faith. And as they traveled, when they came upon others, they had to shout, “Unclean” and people would avoid them. 

When Jesus heard their cry for help from Him, He told them to go present themselves to the priest as spelled out in  Lev. 14:1-32. Jesus did this without even calling them over to Himself and they left immediately to do this. Luke’s grammar suggests the healing did not happen until they started on their way to the synagogue to see the priest. Only one returned to thank Jesus and to worship Him. 

Luke adds an interesting note, this man was a Samaritan. This would have made Jesus’ disciples uncomfortable and embarrassed that a notorious Samaritan out did any of the other Jewish counterparts. The sad part in this story is that nine did not return to thank Jesus for healing them. They got from Jesus all they wanted from Him – physical healing, not spiritual healing and eternal life.

The Samaritan instead of doing his ceremonial requirements, set them aside to do something more important – worship God and give thanks. The other nine are like so many people today, even some who are Christian, they only want God when they need Him and when there is no need, they ignore Him. 

Reflection Assignment: How often do you really worship the Lord? How often do you really give thanks to the Lord besides when He answers your prayers? Are your prayers more about physical needs or are most of your prayers about your relationship with the Lord? Why or why not? Do you worship during the week or just wait until Sundays? Why or why not?

Scripture To Meditate On: Colossians 3:16-17, “Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. (17) And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father” (NLT).

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, please forgive me when I forget to thank You enough for Who You are, what You do and how much You love me. Please forgive me when I only at times pray to get something from You and not cultivate my relationship to You. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly