Transforming Power of Jesus: A Call to Gratitude

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Sees You in Your Struggles

No matter how isolated or ashamed you may feel, Jesus sees you right where you are. The ten men with leprosy were outcasts, forced to live apart and announce their uncleanness to everyone they met. Yet, when they called out to Jesus, He didn’t ignore them or pass by in a hurry—He truly saw them. In the same way, no matter what you’re carrying or how invisible you feel, Jesus notices you, knows your pain, and cares deeply about your situation. You are never overlooked by God. [04:09]

Luke 17:11-14 (ESV)
On the way to Jerusalem he was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as he entered a village, he was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted up their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.” When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.

Reflection: Where in your life do you feel unseen or overlooked, and how can you invite Jesus to meet you in that place today?

Day 2: Obedience Unlocks God’s Blessings

God’s blessings often follow our obedience, even when we don’t fully understand what He’s asking us to do. The lepers were healed “as they went”—not before, but as they obeyed Jesus’ instruction to show themselves to the priests. Sometimes, we want God’s blessing before we take the step He’s calling us to, but God’s order is clear: obedience comes first, and then the blessing follows. If you’re longing for God’s favor in an area of your life, ask yourself if you’re walking in obedience to what He’s already told you. [06:14]

Luke 17:14 (ESV)
When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed.

Reflection: What is one area where God is calling you to obey Him today, even if it feels difficult or doesn’t make sense yet?

Day 3: Gratitude Should Be Our First Response

When God moves in our lives, our first response should be to run back to Him with gratitude. Out of the ten lepers healed, only one returned to thank Jesus, falling at His feet and praising Him with a loud voice. It’s easy to take God’s goodness for granted or move on quickly to the next thing, but true transformation is marked by a heart that can’t help but say “thank you.” Let your gratitude be loud, visible, and sincere—don’t miss a moment to give God the praise He deserves. [08:48]

Luke 17:15-16 (ESV)
Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan.

Reflection: What is one specific thing God has done for you that you haven’t thanked Him for yet? Take time today to thank Him out loud.

Day 4: Jesus Changes Everything

An encounter with Jesus doesn’t just improve your life—it transforms it completely. The healed leper’s life was radically changed: no more shame, no more isolation, no more pain. In the same way, Jesus offers to make us new, to wash us clean, and to give us a fresh start. Baptism is an outward sign of this inward change, but the real miracle is what Jesus does in your heart. If you’ve experienced His grace, you know that you’re not the same person you used to be—He changes everything. [12:38]

2 Corinthians 5:17 (ESV)
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Reflection: How has Jesus changed you, and what is one area where you still need His transforming power today?

Day 5: Thanksgiving Is the Gateway to God’s Presence

God invites us to come into His presence with thanksgiving, not just with requests. When we focus on gratitude, our hearts are opened to deeper connection with Him, and we remember all the ways He’s been faithful before. Make it a daily habit to list out what you’re thankful for, and let that gratitude shape your prayers and your worship. Don’t be like the nine who forgot to return—be the one who always comes back to say thank you. [17:54]

Psalm 100:4 (ESV)
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!

Reflection: Start your day by writing down five things you’re thankful for, and use that list to guide your prayers and worship today.

Sermon Summary

Today’s focus is on the transforming power of Jesus and the importance of living with a heart of gratitude. Looking at the story of the ten lepers, we see how Jesus not only performed miracles but also noticed those whom society had cast aside. Leprosy in Jesus’ day was more than a physical disease—it was a sentence to a life of isolation and shame. The lepers had to announce their uncleanness, living as outcasts, much like how we might feel when our own struggles and failures are exposed. Yet, when these men cried out, Jesus saw them. He didn’t just hear their words; He truly saw their pain and their need.

Jesus’ response was simple: “Go show yourselves to the priest.” It was as they obeyed that they were healed. This highlights a key truth—God’s blessings often follow our obedience. Sometimes we want God’s favor in our lives, but we’re not willing to do what He’s asked of us. The story challenges us to examine whether we’re walking in obedience, not just seeking blessings.

Out of the ten who were healed, only one returned to thank Jesus. This man’s gratitude was loud and unashamed. He recognized the magnitude of what had been done for him and couldn’t help but express his thanks. This is a call for us to be the “one,” not the “nine.” Too often, we receive God’s goodness and move on without pausing to give thanks. True worship and connection with God begin with gratitude—acknowledging all He’s done, not just asking for more.

Baptism was also discussed as an outward sign of the inward change Jesus brings. The water itself isn’t special; it’s a symbol of the new life and forgiveness found in Christ. When Jesus changes us, we’re not the same people we once were. Our response should be a life marked by thankfulness, worship, and generosity.

As a church, the invitation is to be people who are quick to say “thank you” to God, to worship loudly, to give generously, and to never miss a moment to express gratitude for all He’s done. For those who haven’t yet experienced this transformation, today is an opportunity to respond to Jesus, to step into a new life, and to join in the celebration of His goodness.

Key Takeaways

1. Jesus sees us in our isolation and shame, just as He saw the lepers. Even when we feel invisible or unworthy, He notices our pain and our need. His compassion is not limited by our circumstances or by what others think of us. We are never overlooked by God. [04:09]
2. Obedience is the pathway to God’s blessing. The lepers were healed “as they went”—as they acted on Jesus’ command, not before. Many times, we want God’s favor without following His direction, but true blessing comes when we trust Him enough to do what He asks, even when it doesn’t make sense. [05:31]
3. Gratitude should be our first and loudest response to God’s work in our lives. The one leper who returned didn’t just whisper a thank you; he praised God with a loud voice, unashamed and overflowing with joy. Our worship should reflect the depth of our thankfulness, not just in private but publicly and passionately. [08:48]
4. Baptism is a powerful symbol of the transformation Jesus brings, but it’s not the act that saves—it’s what Jesus has already done in our hearts. The old is gone, the new has come, and our lives should outwardly reflect the inward change. This is a call to live as people who are visibly different because of Christ’s work in us. [12:38]
5. A lifestyle of gratitude changes how we approach God, worship, and generosity. Instead of coming to God with a list of requests, we start with thanksgiving for what He’s already done. This posture of gratitude fuels our worship, shapes our giving, and keeps us from taking God’s goodness for granted. Let’s be the “one” who always returns to say thank you. [17:54]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:39] - The Need for Gratitude in Everyday Life
[04:09] - The Shame and Isolation of the Lepers
[05:31] - Obedience Unlocks Blessing
[06:14] - God’s Order: Blessing Follows Obedience
[08:13] - The Miracle Realized
[08:48] - Loud and Unashamed Gratitude
[09:52] - Jesus Changes Everything
[11:20] - The Meaning of Baptism
[12:38] - Outward Expression of Inward Change
[13:57] - Where Are the Other Nine?
[14:54] - A Church Marked by Thankfulness
[16:36] - Connecting to God Through Gratitude
[17:54] - Never Missing a Moment to Thank God
[18:44] - Worship and Generosity
[20:34] - Giving God Our Best
[23:27] - Invitation to Respond to Jesus

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

In Luke 17:11-19, what did the ten men with leprosy do when they saw Jesus? How did Jesus respond to them?
According to the story, when did the lepers receive their healing—before or after they obeyed Jesus’ command?
Out of the ten men who were healed, how many returned to thank Jesus? What did he do when he came back?
In the sermon, what does the pastor say baptism represents? [[12:38]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think Jesus told the lepers to go show themselves to the priests instead of healing them on the spot? What does this say about the relationship between obedience and blessing? [[05:31]]
The one leper who returned to thank Jesus did so “in a loud voice.” What does this tell us about the kind of gratitude God desires from us? [[08:48]]
The pastor mentioned that leprosy was not just a physical disease but also brought shame and isolation. How might this relate to the way we experience shame or isolation because of our own struggles? [[04:09]]
How does baptism serve as an outward sign of an inward change, according to the sermon? Why is it important that the act itself doesn’t save, but points to what Jesus has already done? [[12:38]]

Application Questions

The sermon emphasized that Jesus “sees” us, even in our isolation and shame. Is there an area of your life where you feel unseen or overlooked? How does it change things to know that Jesus notices your pain and your need? [[04:09]]
The lepers were healed “as they went”—as they obeyed Jesus’ command. Is there something God has asked you to do that you’ve been hesitant to obey? What might it look like to take a step of obedience this week, even if you don’t see immediate results? [[05:31]]
Only one out of ten lepers returned to thank Jesus. When you look at your own life, do you tend to be more like the one who returns or the nine who move on? What are some practical ways you can build a habit of gratitude toward God? [[13:57]]
The pastor challenged the church to worship and give thanks “loudly” and unashamed. What holds you back from expressing gratitude to God openly—whether in worship, prayer, or conversation with others? [[08:48]]
Baptism is described as a symbol of the new life and forgiveness found in Christ. If you have been baptized, how does your life reflect the inward change Jesus has made? If you haven’t, what questions or hesitations do you have about taking that step? [[12:38]]
The sermon encouraged starting with thanksgiving instead of just bringing God a list of requests. What would it look like for you to begin your prayers or worship times with gratitude this week? [[16:36]]
The pastor said, “Let’s be the ‘one’ who always returns to say thank you.” What is one specific thing God has done in your life recently that you want to thank Him for right now? How can you make gratitude a regular part of your daily routine? [[17:54]]

Sermon Clips

Imagine if you and I had to shout out one of our deepest, darkest struggles. Imagine if you and I had to walk around and if you saw somebody coming towards you, you just had to yell out, addicts, get away from me, I'm addicted, alcohol, drugs. What if you had to shout out, angry, I rage on people, get away. That actually might help here on the west side but, this is where they're at. They are not allowed to be, it is contagious, they're not allowed to be and they have to profess that. Imagine the shame that you would feel, carrying that with you. [00:04:09]

I hope that you understand that this morning, that Jesus sees you. He sees you. God created you. He knows you and he sees you. He's not walking past you because he's in a hurry to get to somebody else. He sees you. Some of you are here this morning, you're watching online, you're thinking man, does God even see what I'm going through right now? Because what I've been going through, it's not getting better, it's not changing. God, do you even see me? You better believe he sees you. Don't let the devil lie to you. God sees you. [00:04:54]

As they did what Jesus told them to do, they got the blessing that they wanted in their life. Because God has an order of things. I don't know if you know that or not. That when you're obedient to Him, you get to experience the blessing. [00:05:34]

Some of you maybe are thinking, well I just don't feel like my life is blessed right now. I feel like I'm not having any blessings. So let me ask you this question. Have you done the last thing that He asked you to do? So if you want the blessing of God, you have to be obedient to God. [00:05:50]

God doesn't bless disobedience. Oh God bless me. Well if you're going down the road that He's asked you not to go down, there are no blessings down that road. The blessings of God. And I'm not talking about materialistic blessings. Some of the greatest blessings you could ever get in your life are the peace of God, the joy of God, the purpose of God. You are never going to get those living a life of disobedience, but the moment you start obeying God, guess what, get ready for the blessings of God to pour out on your life. [00:06:27]

You want the blessings of God, just follow him and you're going to get them. They will rain down on you because that's how God works. [00:07:19]

He doesn't have to walk around yelling unclean anymore. He doesn't have to walk around in pain anymore. He doesn't have to walk around in shame anymore. He doesn't have to cross the other side of the street anymore when somebody else has come. He doesn't have to be an outcast from his friends and his families anymore. He went like Jesus told him to go. He got healed and the first response was, I gotta go back and I gotta tell this guy how grateful I am. Why? Because Jesus changes everything. Everything. [00:10:13]

People will ask me from time to time, how do you know God's real? Here's how I know God's real. You ready? Because I don't have the same desires that I used to have in my life before Jesus. He changed me. [00:10:48]

Because of his death on the cross, because of the blood he shed, our sins are forgiven when we call upon his name. He washes us clean, he makes us new. Second Corinthians would say the old is gone, the new has come. So baptism just allows me to outwardly, it's an illustration, it's a picture of what Jesus has already done. Here's me before Jesus. Here's me going under the water getting washed clean. Here's me coming up brand new. It's not the water, it's what Jesus already did. [00:12:44]

He's not just saved us, he's changed us. I'm not the same person that I used to be. If you're with me, say yeah. Come on. [00:13:23]

Some of you are here today and Jesus has never changed your life because you've never called upon him to come into your life. And it is not an accident that you are here today. It is not, God brought you here today. He loves you and he wants to begin a relationship with you today. [00:13:32]

Jesus is looking at this one guy going, hang on now. Where's, where's the other nine? Cause I know I healed them. And the Bible doesn't tell us much more about this conversation, but I don't know. In my mind, I like to think the one guy was like, I don't know. I didn't take time to look around. I just saw that I was healed and I stopped everything to run, to tell you, thank you. [00:14:11]

During the worship service, when we're singing to music, I peek. I like to look around the room going, man, how are people engaging? And some of you, can I just be real with you for a moment? It looks like you don't have a single thing to be thankful for in here. We're singing songs, man. We're praising God, telling Him how amazing He is, and you look miserable. And I wonder, do they know the God that I know? Because if they did, then surely they would be thankful for what He's done for them. [00:14:53]

I look forward to the day that when we roll in here on a Sunday morning, I may have to look at some of you and go, calm down. I'm serious. I want this Sunday gathering to be a place where we cannot wait to get to the house of God. We cannot wait to get around the people of God. We cannot wait to open up the Word of God. We cannot wait to worship in the presence of God. And we got a people that are so grateful and so thankful for what God has done in their life. [00:15:30]

Some people from time to time, they'll say to me, I just don't know how to connect to God. I come in here and, you know, I don't know how to connect to God. I don't know how to pray. I don't know how to worship. Here's how you do it. You ready? Let me simplify it. Just tell God how thankful you are for him. Just let him know how grateful you are for what he's done in your life. That's all you need to do. [00:16:39]

You know how we try to come before God? With a laundry list of things we want God to do for us. You know God actually has an order of things. He says, you want to come into my presence? Here's how you do it. You come with thanksgiving. [00:16:59]

And in my life and in our church, I don't want us to be the nine. I want us to be the one. I want us to be the one that runs back. I wrote it down like this. This is what I prayed this week. God, I don't ever wanna miss a moment to tell you thank you. I don't ever wanna miss a moment to say thank you for what you have done in my life. Because I got a thousand reasons to thank him. Ten thousand reasons to tell him how grateful I am for what he has changed in me. [00:17:49]

I am not up here saying one thing to you that I'm not gonna live out with my life. I am not the most vocally talented singer, yet I'm gonna sing at the top of my lungs to God. When we gather in this place, I'ma let it rip. Actually, permission, you can worship God before you even show up here on a Sunday. Hey, you can worship God when you leave here on a Sunday morning. But I'm telling you, I'ma be down here on the front row, and I'ma be giving everything I got to the Lord. [00:19:06]

the bible calls it a tithe we give 10 10 of what you bring in you give to god you don't actually give it to him you give it back to him because it belongs to him you understand that right everything you have is god's and if you're sitting there calculating in your head man if i gave 10 i'd have to change everything yeah because god goes first we don't give god our leftovers we give him our best and maybe you will have to look at your finances and your budget and go man we're gonna have to change some things praise the lord that will honor him so much [00:20:45]

thank you for everything you've done in my life thank you that you didn't leave me thank you that you should have left me and you didn't thank you that you rescued me out of the pit that i was stuck in thank you that you forgave every sin of my life thank you that you changed me and we're gonna do this together amen [00:21:53]

You've never said yes to a relationship with Jesus. You've never called him to come into your life. You know that you got sin, but you've never seen your need for a Savior. But today you are. Today you're saying, I know I need Jesus in my life. And in just a moment I'm gonna count to three. And if that's you, I'm gonna ask you to get really bold this morning and shoot your hand in the air and say, today I'm ready to give my life to Jesus. [00:22:34]

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