What is the foremost quality of a trusting disciple of Jesus? Brennan Manning sets forth a scenario in which that question is answered in Chapter 2 of Ruthless Trust.
Imagine that 10 people are interviewed. Each person is asked the following question: Do you trust God? Although everyone answers in the affirmative, only one is telling the truth. Each of the interviewees is videotaped for a month. As the tapes are reviewed, one distinguishing trait will reveal the truth-teller: gratitude.
The author explains:
“Gratitude arises from the lived perception, evaluation, and acceptance of all of life as grace- as an undeserved and unearned gift from the Father’s hand. Such recognition is itself the work of grace, and acceptance of the gift is implicitly an acknowledgement of the Giver.”
Luke 17:11-19 tells of the occasion when Jesus healed 10 men of leprosy. As the lepers went to show themselves to the priests as Jesus had commanded them to do, all were healed. Yet only one was grateful enough to come back. He praised and thanked Jesus, humbly throwing himself at the feet of Jesus.
Especially in the midst of our adversity and uncertainty, are we able to be grateful for God’s grace in our lives, trusting in His providence and guidance?
