“If we do not give thanks to God, we will never allow God to perfect what He has given us.“

“Jesus, on his way to Jerusalem, passed between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten lepers came to meet him. Keeping their distance, they raised their voices and said, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ When he saw them, he said, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.’ And as they went, they were cleansed. One of them, seeing that he was healed, turned back, praising God in a loud voice. He fell facedown at Jesus’ feet, thanking him. He was a Samaritan. Jesus asked, ‘Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?’ Then he said to him, ‘Rise and go; your faith has made you well.’” Luke 17:11-19

“And the nine others, where are they?” exclaimed Jesus! As they did not return to give thanks, they had received a miracle that was not perfect.

• What is the perfection of the miracle?

The perfection of the miracle is that we obtain the spiritual security of the miracle; the spiritual security of the miracle is the word that blesses our miracle, ensuring our salvation. When we receive a miracle, that miracle can eventually destroy us.

For example, some people have received houses, good jobs… which made them proud. But the leper mentioned in the above Bible verse received his miracle and returned to give thanks, and then the Lord said to him, “Your faith has saved you.” Faith has come to save us in that what we have received will not destroy us; what we have received from God will not change us for the worse but will lead us forward. Faith saves our souls in that the miracle God has given us will not make us worse but rather make us better.

The phrase “Your faith has saved you” brought the spiritual character that was lacking in the miracle this leper had received. Returning to give thanks to God after receiving a miracle will allow God to perfect what He has given us. And this will ensure that what we have received from God will never destroy us but instead lead us to become perfectly what we are.

In conclusion, note that our “MATONDO” (thanks) honors God. Nevertheless, there are several ways to say “MATONDO” (thanks) or to give thanks to God, including through voluntary or sacrificial offerings. We can express thanks verbally (testimony) as well as through offerings and gifts. It is at this level that we must understand that gratitude depends on the revelation of the blessing. If you have not perceived the blessing at its true value, it will be difficult for you to say thanks as it should be.

“I still remember all the sacrificial offerings that my husband and I had to make when we asked God for children, and I am convinced that these offerings must have cried out before the throne of God. And I will not only stop verbally thanking Him for the twins He gave me, but I will also continue to give thanks through my offerings.”

When a person understands how much good God has done for them, they can thank Him in an impressive way! If we want to see positive change in our lives, we must give thanks. Regardless of the situation, if we are faithful in thanksgiving, there will be a change.

Thanksgiving is a sacrifice that must be offered continually. Every altar of sacrifice is an altar where things are transformed. Let us never fail to offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Lord. May the Lord renew in us a spirit of gratitude and an attitude that continually testifies to the goodness of the Lord, no matter the circumstances in our lives.

Let us not give the enemy an opportunity to make us forget the goodness of God. In all circumstances, even in our distress, let us learn to offer thanksgiving to God, and we will see God manifest His glory in our lives.

May God bless our lives and may our lives change and gives you the perfection of the miracle so that we always have reasons to say “Matondo” to God in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen

This text is an excerpt from the book ” MATONDO: Living through Thanksgiving ” written by Authors Arlette Manegabe, Athom’s Mbuma, David Kajisu, Fifi Bilolo Tunasi, Grâce Tshiashala, Michael Tettey, Pasteur Lévi Kongolo Kazadi, Sissi Bogoli, Tracien Boma.