13. Gratitude

Hearing about the sudden death of a classmate I hastened to thank God for keeping me and my family safe. And then came the news of another classmate- their new house burned down in an accidental fire just days before their move. No loss of life. I thanked God for their safety and thanked Him for keeping me and my family out of such disaster. But what really is true gratitude and thanksgiving? For what and when do we need to be thankful? Is gratitude conditional? Are we getting used to saying thanks only in exceptions rather than by default. Let us see what the Word has to say?

For a true believer thanksgiving has to be almost second nature. We are reminded in the Bible that God, with his sovereign power gives us everything. Everything. Good or bad. Joy or suffering. So be thankful to him at all times and in all ways possible. Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:18. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. 1 Timothy 4:4-5

Thanking God and Prayer to God go hand in hand. I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, Ephesians 1:16. It is only through a deep and true understanding of his relationship with each one of us do we really begin to understand his might and his Grace. We often tend to thank God when some major milestone happens or when we only see physical signs of his intervention (often human defined success or good things only). But how often do we put our full faith and surrender utterly and completely to His Will and thank Him for everything- past, present and future; seen and unseen; tangible and intangible; happy and sad. Do we? It is only when we can do that, will we have true peace- And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:15-17. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

Gratitude for humans is by default always after we get some-thing that we desired. Do we ever thank anyone in advance. No. For we are in doubt always. And we are in greed. And even when we get our desires, it is purely transient. There is nothing in our lexicon as “everlasting thanks”. It is a very temporary emotional feeling. But as Believers our thanksgiving should be through and in the Lord Jesus Christ. It needs to be spiritual. Remember his ways are not our ways. His power is limitless. He is not bound by time. So have the confidence and faith to JUST thank him as everything and All things will be to you through him. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7. Can we really do that? Paul conveys it in very simple words- Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15. A Psalm for giving thanks. Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 100:1- 5. Be steadfast and constant in thanks giving as he was- Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say, “His steadfast love endures forever.” Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free-Psalm 118:1-18

So how does one give thanks to the Lord? The bible says it in many ways and many forms. But at the heart of it, the message of thanksgiving is one of complete Faith and Belief. We are told to recount his blessings. We are told to surrender our desires to him. We are asked to ASK in his name knowing it will be given. Make spiritual sacrifices like the Lord himself sacrificed his All for us. I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. Psalm 9:1. Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and perform your vows to the Most High, Psalm 50:14. Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7. Let thanks giving be in joy and forever. Continuous, as you are being blessed daily by his Grace- That my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever! Psalm 30:12 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing- 2 Thessalonians 1:3. Saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honour and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.” Revelation 7:12

A very specific and often repeated command in the bible is to make our thanks giving public. Make it know to all what the God has done for you. Both good and bad. Testimonials are a truly amazing way of not merely saying thanks to God but affirming your faith in Jesus. Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples! 1 Chronicles 16:8. “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him. Luke 8:39. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, 2 Timothy 1:8. And God made it known very clearly how he rewards those who are thankful to him and spreads his message- So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, Matthew 10:32. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:16. And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” Mark 5:19. But how often do we really make God as the reason for our successes and good stories to the world. How well and frankly do we reflect God’s grace in “our” achievements? Are they not His?

We need to be reminded constantly to be thankful to Him. “But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!” Jonah 2:9. Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire- Hebrews 12:28-29. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Hebrews 13:15. Forget not his name says the Bible- Of David. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s- Psalm 103:1-5. And God asks us to not only thank for our grace but for everyone’s blessings- First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 1 Timothy 2:1. And what if one is not thankful to God. What does the bible say? What are the warnings of not being thankful to God? For although they knew God, they did not honour him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Romans 1:21.

So let us show gratitude at all time in all ways and in all things to our Lord!!!