By: Julius Konton
The Resident Bishop of the Liberia Episcopal Area of The United Methodist Church, Bishop Samuel J. Quire Jr., has challenged Christians to embrace gratitude as a defining characteristic of authentic faith, urging believers to make thanksgiving a daily lifestyle rather than an occasional response to answered prayers.
Delivering a spiritually charged sermon at the Kitty Deckor Memorial United Methodist Church in the Baptist Seminary Community, Bishop Quire preached on the theme, “Showing Gratitude and Thankfulness to God,” drawing his message from Gospel of Luke 17:11–19, the biblical account of Jesus healing ten lepers, only one of whom returned to thank Him.
Addressing a packed congregation of worshippers, church leaders, educators and professionals, Bishop Quire emphasized that while all ten lepers received the same miracle, only one demonstrated genuine appreciation.
“The difference between the nine and the one was not the miracle they received, but the gratitude they expressed,” Bishop Quire declared. “Many receive God’s blessings, but few return to give Him the glory He deserves.”
He explained that gratitude is more than an emotional response, it is tangible evidence of spiritual maturity and a believer’s acknowledgment that every blessing originates from God.
“Gratitude is the evidence that we recognize God as the source of every blessing.
A grateful heart never forgets the hand that has blessed it,” the Bishop told the congregation.
Bishop Quire noted that thanksgiving should extend beyond spoken words and become an enduring lifestyle reflected through worship, obedience, humility and service.
“Thanksgiving is more than words; it is a lifestyle of worship. When gratitude fills our hearts, worship naturally flows from our lives,” he said.
Encouraging Christians to remain thankful regardless of life’s circumstances, the Resident Bishop cautioned believers against becoming consumed by future expectations while overlooking God’s previous blessings.
“Don’t become so focused on your next request that you forget to thank God for His last blessing,” he urged.
He concluded by encouraging worshippers to emulate the healed Samaritan who returned to glorify Christ, stressing that gratitude strengthens one’s relationship with God and serves as a compelling testimony capable of inspiring others to faith.
The account of the ten lepers in Luke 17 remains one of Christianity’s most enduring lessons on gratitude.
According to the biblical narrative, only one out of ten or 10 percent returned to thank Jesus after receiving healing, a statistic frequently cited by Christian scholars to illustrate humanity’s tendency to celebrate blessings while forgetting their source.
Across Christian traditions worldwide, thanksgiving remains a central expression of worship, with churches encouraging believers to cultivate grateful hearts through prayer, praise and acts of service.
Numerous psychological and theological studies have also associated gratitude with improved emotional well-being, stronger interpersonal relationships and increased resilience during difficult times.
The service attracted several prominent members of the Liberia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church and the academic community of United Methodist University.
Among those in attendance were Cllr. Medina A. Wesseh, Chairperson of the Interim Management Team of United Methodist University;
Cllr. Ruth Jappy, Chancellor of the Liberia Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church;
Fth. Comany B. Wesseh, senior member of the Liberia Annual Conference;
Rev. Dr. Anthony G. Dio, Vice President for Academic Affairs at United Methodist University;
Fth. Gareson Baliey, President of the Monrovia District Conference United Methodist Men Organization;
Bro. Jefferson B. Knight, Director of the Human Rights Department;
Dr. Tokap Nah Tepoteh, senior member of the Liberia Annual Conference;
and Rev. Dr. David M. Tokpah, Vice President for Admissions, Records and Recruitment at United Methodist University, who was recently appointed President of the University by its Board of Directors under the leadership of Bishop Samuel J. Quire Jr.
The worship service concluded with renewed calls for Christians to embody gratitude not only in prayer and worship but also through compassionate living, faithful stewardship and unwavering devotion to God reinforcing the timeless biblical truth that thankful hearts draw believers closer to their Creator while inspiring hope within their communities.
