GIVE THANKS
Part 2
F. F. Bruce – Ingratitude is one of the features of pagan depravity in Romans 1:21.
Romans 1:21 (HCSB) 21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened.
the children of God are expected (and enabled by the Spirit) to “abound in thanksgiving” (Col 2:7; Col 3:15, 17, 4:2; Eph 5:4,20)
Colossians 2:7 (HCSB) 7 rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, overflowing with gratitude.
Colossians 3:15 (HCSB) 15 And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful.
Colossians 3:17 (HCSB) 17 And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Colossians 4:2 (HCSB) 2 Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving.
Ephesians 5:4 (HCSB) 4 Coarse and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks.
Ephesians 5:20 (HCSB) 20 giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
C. Ryle – Thankfulness is a flower which will never bloom well excepting upon a root of deep humility.
Hiebert – When we realize that God works all things out for good to those who love Him and are yielded to His will (Ro 8:28, Ge 50:20),
Romans 8:28 (HCSB) 28 We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.
Genesis 50:20 (HCSB) 20 You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people.
Thanksgiving under all circumstances becomes a glorious possibility “He who can say `AMEN’ to the will of God in his heart will be able to say ‘HALLELUJAH’ also.”‘
Consider what the Lord has done
For you and those you love;
Then give Him thanks with hearts of praise
For blessings from above. –Sper
God grant us the Spirit wrought grace to emulate Matthew Henry’s high standard who wrote in his diary the day he was mugged “Let me be thankful first because I was never robbed before; second, although they took my purse, they did not take my life; third, because although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed.” Beloved, one of the best marks of spiritual maturity is the ability to give thanks when it is difficult!
K. Chesterton was once asked what was the greatest lesson, he had ever learned to which he replied “The greatest lesson I have learned is to take things with GRATITUDE and not take them for GRANTED.” Chesterton added that “You say grace before meals. All right But I say grace before the concert and the opera, and grace before the play and pantomime, and grace before I open a book, and grace before sketching, painting, swimming, walking, playing, and grace before I dip the pen in the ink.” Thanksgiving is faith in action.
Thanksgiving to God comes (super) naturally when we count our blessings. We would much less apt to protest the command to give thanks in EVERYTHING if it were our habit to give thanks in ANYTHING. Empowered by the Spirit, we need to focus on our “haves,” not our “have-nots.” As the psalmist says “Bless (praise) the LORD, O my soul, and FORGET NONE of His benefits; ” (Psalm 103:2). Indeed, praise to God comes naturally when we count our blessings.
M B Babcock encourages us “Be on the lookout for mercies. The more we look for them, the more of them we will see. Blessings brighten when we count them. Out of the determination of the heart, the eyes see. If you want to be gloomy, there’s gloom enough to keep you glum; if you want to be happy, there’s gleam enough to keep you glad. Better to lose count while naming your blessings than to lose your blessings by counting your troubles.”
David Cooper writes that “Thanksgiving delivers us from a victim mentality and gives us a victor’s mentality. I once read that nothing can help the person with the wrong mental attitude, and nothing can stop a person with the right mental attitude. And the right mental attitude to overcome our obstacles and win our battles is thanksgiving.”
Missionary Benjamin Weir was held hostage in Lebanon and imprisoned under miserable conditions for 16 months. In his first interview after his release, he was asked how he spent his time and how he dealt with boredom and despair. His answer stunned the reporters. He simply said, “Counting my blessings.” “Blessings?” they responded. “Yes,” he explained. “Some days I got to take a shower. Sometimes there were some vegetables in my food. And I could always be thankful for the love of my family.”
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by. —Oatman
Thankfulness seems to be a lost art today. A ministerial student in Evanston, Illinois was part of a life-saving squad. In 1860, when a ship went aground on the shore of Lake Michigan. Edward Spencer waded again and again into the frigid waters to rescue 17 passengers. In the process and his health was permanently damaged. Some years later at his funeral, it was noted that not one of the people he rescued ever thanked him.
“In Everything Give Thanks!”
Mid sunshine, cloud, or stormy days,
When hope abounds or care dismays,
When trials press and toils increase
Let not thy faith in God decrease—
‘In everything give thanks.’
“All things we know shall work for good,
Nor would we change them if we could;
‘Tis well if only He command;
His promises will ever stand—
‘In everything give thanks.’
“He satisfies the longing heart,
He thwarts the tempter’s cruel dart,
With goodness fills the hungry soul,
And helps us sing when billows roll.
‘In everything give thanks.'” –Author Unknown
As David a man after God’s heart (Acts 13:22) said “I will GIVE THANKS to the LORD according to His righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High… I will GIVE THANKS to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Thy wonders… Therefore I will GIVE THANKS to Thee among the nations, O LORD, And I will sing praises to Thy name… The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall THANK Him… Sing praise to the LORD, you His godly ones, And GIVE THANKS to His holy name… I will GIVE THANKS to Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart, And will glorify Thy name forever… With my mouth I will GIVE THANKS abundantly to the LORD; And in the midst of many I will praise Him… I will GIVE THANKS to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Thy works, And my soul knows it very well.” (Ps 7:17, 9:1. 18:49, 28:7, 30:4, 86:12, 109:30, 139:14)
Psalm 7:17 (HCSB) 17 I will thank the LORD for His righteousness; I will sing about the name of Yahweh the Most High.
Psalm 9:1 (HCSB) 1 I will thank Yahweh with all my heart; I will declare all Your wonderful works.
Psalm 18:49 (HCSB) 49 Therefore I will praise You, Yahweh, among the nations; I will sing about Your name.
Psalm 28:7 (HCSB) 7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. Therefore my heart rejoices, and I praise Him with my song.
Psalm 30:4 (HCSB) 4 Sing to Yahweh, you His faithful ones, and praise His holy name.
Psalm 86:12 (HCSB) 12 I will praise You with all my heart, Lord my God, and will honor Your name forever.
Psalm 109:30 (HCSB) 30 I will fervently thank the LORD with my mouth; I will praise Him in the presence of many.
Psalm 139:14 (HCSB) 14 I will praise You because I have been remarkably and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful, and I know ⌊this⌋ very well.
Hebrews 6:12 (HCSB) 12 so that you won’t become lazy but will be imitators of those who inherit the promises through faith and perseverance.
Father grant by Your Spirit through Christ Jesus that we might be enabled to be “imitators of those (like David who continually gave thanks to You and) who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” (Heb 6:12) Amen
We don’t need more to be thankful for, we need to be more thankful.
