Even though I clutch my blankets and groan when the alarm rings each morning, thank you, Lord, that I can hear. There are those who are deaf.
Even though I keep my eyes tightly closed against the morning light as long as possible, thank you, Lord, that I can see. There are many who are blind.
Even though I huddle in my bed and put off the physical effort of rising, thank you, Lord, that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedfast.
Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost, toast is burned, tempers are short, thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many who are lonely.
Even though our table never looks like the pictures in the magazines and the menu is at times unbalanced. Thank you, Lord, for the food we have. There are many who are hungry.
Even though the routine of my job is often monotonous, thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work. There are many who have no work.
Thank you, Lord, for the gift of my life’s journey here on earth. (Source: Unknown)
We must not miss this vital ingredient of our life in Christ -- a thankful heart to God!
1. In Christ’s name – Eph. 5:20
In this section of scripture, the context tells us some very important things! First, this kind of thankfulness comes from being filled with the Spirit!
Do you struggle with having a thankful heart. Is consistency in this area is difficult for you! What can you do?
I cannot please my spouse
My spouse doesn’t please me
My job is miserable
My retirement plan is non-existent
I am not where I thought I would be at this age
Too many people have done me wrong
Everything seems against me
I just want more…more time, more money, more friends, more favor, more love, more health, more…
What’s a person to do? Surrender! Surrender your control over your life! Yield to Christ’s control in and through your life! Recognize you can’t do it your way and allow the Spirit of God who indwells you to fill you and control you! This surrender is crucial, because this kind of thankfulness we seek in hard times comes from being filled with the Spirit.
The second thing we learn from this context is that such thankfulness should be made in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ! To whom and for whom are we to be thankful?
Years ago, I was in line to get gas at the gas station. There was some sort of deal with free $20 gift cards that day…and a lot of people knew about it. The trick was that the deal was over at 9 AM…and it was now 8:40 AM. I sat in line for about 10 minutes when it looked like the lady in front of me was about turn the corner and be next in line for gas – and then it happened. She had left a space open for people finished getting their gas to pull out of the parking lot; however, three cars came off the road and decided to use that space to drive right past our line of cars. Essentially, they all cut in line. Those cars cut in line, but a lane closer to us opened up to our line of cars and so the lady in front of me led our line into that lane. Victory! As we passed the cars in a different lane, I could hear the driver of the lead car that cut in line earlier say, “Hey, they are all cutting in front of me!”
There is no cutting in line in eternity. Jesus Christ has provided the gift of salvation for all who believe. Jesus Christ is the one who enables sanctification. Jesus Christ is the One who brings His children eventually to glorification! Give thanks in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord!
2. God’s Will for the believer – I Thess. 5:18
We all spend time considering what exactly the will of God for my life is from time to time. I considered God’s will when I went to college, when I got married, when I became an assistant Pastor, when I started a church, and when I came to Marshfield. However, there are certain things we do not need to consider whether it is the will of God or not – because they are the Word of God. The Word of God is the Will of God!
I Thessalonians 5:18 tells us to start out with what the will of God is for our lives – we are to give thanks in every circumstance. You may say, “In my circumstance Pastor?!” The answer is YES! How? Do not forget what we just saw in Ephesians 5 – a thankful heart comes from being filled with the Spirit!
Years ago, one of our children asked what it was like when a Pastor got ordained. I said, “It’s a bunch of Pastors, who have been in the ministry for decades, come together and get to ask you any question about the Bible they would like.” I remember one of those questions very clearly. A pastor had asked me to define the difference between the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the filling of the Holy Spirit. I answered the question and then he asked one more – “Are you filled with the Holy Spirit right now? May I ask the same question for each of us today…
Are you filled with the Holy Spirit right now?
This thankfulness is: Unceasing, Spontaneous, done in Christ’s Name, God’s Will, and it is…
3. Heaven’s Theme – Rev. 7:12
This portion of scripture refers to those redeemed during the tribulation period (v. 14). They declare for us what will be the theme of our voices for all eternity: verse 12.
Our forefathers had such a thankful heart directed right to God. After completing a 26-year project of standardizing the English language in a dictionary Noah Webster wrote: "To that great and benevolent Being, who, during the preparation of this work...has borne me and my manuscripts in safety across the Atlantic and given me strength...to bring the work to a close.”
President William Taft stated: "A God-fearing nation, like ours, owes it to its inborn...sense of moral duty to testify...devout gratitude to the All-Giver for...countless benefits."
In the early 1800’s, as Governor of New Hampshire, John Langdon proclaimed: "It... becomes our...Duty, not only to acknowledge, in general with the rest of Mankind, our dependence on the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, but as a People peculiarly favored, to testify our Gratitude to the Author of all our Mercies."
In 1789, President George Washington proclaimed on the National Day of Thanksgiving: "Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the Providence of Almighty God, to obey His will... I do recommend... Thursday, the twenty-sixth day of November... to be devoted by the People of these United States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be." Washington continued: "that we may... humbly offer our prayers... to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech Him to pardon our national... transgressions."
May we all not only continue in the path of our forefathers, and most importantly the path of scripture, with thankful hearts to God. May we continue with thankful hearts to God as:
His Word COMMANDS us to thankfulness
His Works BECKONS us to thankfulness
His Will LEADS us to thankfulness!
A thankful heart is the revelation of your relationship with Jesus. What is your heart revealing about your relationship with Jesus?