HOW THANKFUL ARE YOU REALLY?
My topic today is one I have written about many times over the years. BEING THANKFUL. We may remember our parents telling us many times “say please”, say “thank you”, or we as parents seeking to teach and train our children to do this. The reality is because of our sinful nature, we are automatically unthankful, selfish and self centred. When we come to know Jesus as our Lord and Saviour we have to learn to be thankful, and learn as the song tells us:
Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son
Give thanks with a grateful heart
Give thanks to the Holy One
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son
And now let the weak say, “I am strong”
Let the poor say, “I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us”
And now let the weak say, “I am strong”
Let the poor say, “I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us”
Give thanks with a grateful heart (with a grateful heart)
Give thanks to the Holy One (to the Holy One)
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son
Give thanks with a grateful heart (with a grateful heart)
Give thanks to the Holy One (to the Holy One)
Give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son
And now let the weak say, “I am strong”
Let the poor say, “I am rich
Because of what the Lord has done for us”
And now let the weak say, “I am strong”
Let the poor say, “I am rich (I am rich)
Because of what the Lord has done for us”
Give thanks
We give thanks to You.
It is good to simply sit down and meditate on all that the Lord has done for us, and all that He has promised to do for us amen.
Paul writing to the Thessalonian church in 1 Thess. 5:18 KJV tells us In EVERYTHING give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
I must confess that I often feel guilty when I complain about the aging process going on in my body, and the many other often negative thing that occur in our lives. Paul tells us, we are being disobedient when we are not thankful, and disobedience is a sin.
Not only have I written much about “being thankful” but over the last two years have written often regarding the pandemic, because again Paul tells us in Rom. 8:28 KJV And we know that ALL things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. One does not have to be a Theologian to understand ALL MEANS ALL, and that includes the pandemic.
Naturally speaking we cannot comprehend this as a Believer, but we need a continued revelation of the SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD. He was not surprised when this broke out 2 years ago, He knew in eternity past it would happen. He could of course, have stopped the pandemic, but OUR GOD HAS A PLAN AND PURPOSE FOR ALL THINGS FOR HIS CHILDREN, and as Paul says, IT IS FOR OUR GOOD. God has permitted the pandemic, to speak to His Church and for us, to (if needs be) to come back to the “old paths” Jer. 3:16 NKJV Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls.
We must “build our lives according to the pattern of the Word of God”. This may require us to repent, as God’s eternal plan is that we become MORE LIKE JESUS, and sometimes we are so “thick” that unpleasant things like a pandemic is required to cause us to sit up and think seriously about our relationship with Him. There seems to be so little response by the Church to the pandemic, let us remember God loves us so much that He will use these things and many more to cause us to seek Him more, I am reminded of the writer to Hebrews words in 12:3-6 KJV My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.”
So, I want to encourage you (and my self) to be THANKFUL WITH A GRATEFUL HEART, we may have to spend more time meditating on the fact that God is SOVEREIGN, and although we often don’t understand all that is going on at times in our world, bur remember GOD IS IN TOTAL CONTROL He chose us in eternity past, he knows our name, He loves us with an everlasting love Jer.31:3 KJV Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you, and He is preparing an eternal home for us with Him.
LORD HELP ME TO HAVE AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE.
