Today’s Bible Verse:
Luke 17:17 ESV

Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?”

This verse comes from the story of Jesus healing ten lepers, but only one—a Samaritan—returned to thank Him. Jesus asks this question not just for the nine who failed to return but also for us: Where are we when it comes to gratitude?

Lutheran theology teaches us that all blessings come from God’s grace alone (sola gratia). The ten lepers represent humanity’s shared need for healing and restoration. We, like them, are plagued by the spiritual sickness of sin, and only through Jesus can we be made clean. Yet, how often do we, like the nine, receive God’s gifts without returning to give thanks?

The one leper who returned models the response of faith. Gratitude flows naturally from faith because it acknowledges the gift and the Giver. Luther emphasized the importance of a thankful heart in our daily lives, saying in the Small Catechism that we ought to "thank and praise, serve and obey Him" for all He has done.

Take a moment today to reflect on the ways God has blessed you. Start with the spiritual cleansing we receive through Christ’s death and resurrection. Then consider the earthly blessings: health, relationships, daily bread, and more. Are there moments you’ve taken these gifts for granted? What would it look like to return to Jesus today with a heart full of gratitude?

This return doesn’t have to be elaborate. A simple prayer of thanks, a song of praise, or sharing your testimony can be powerful acts of faith. In Lutheran worship, we regularly confess our sins and receive absolution—returning to Jesus with hearts grateful for His mercy. Let this rhythm shape your daily life, cultivating gratitude as a mark of your faith.

Prayers

A Prayer for Today:

Gracious Father, I thank You for the countless blessings You pour into my life. Forgive me for the times I have taken Your gifts for granted. Help me to return to You daily with a thankful heart, trusting in Your grace and love. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Luther’s Morning Prayer:

I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.

Apostles’ Creed:

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer:

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

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A Song for Today