"Always give thanks for everything to G-d the Father in the name of our L-rd Yeshua the Messiah" Ephesians 5:20
This painting hung on the wall of my dining room for many years. I loved it because it is a reminder to be thankful. As my husband and I prepare for a big Thanksgiving Day celebration with family tomorrow, I've been thinking about thankfulness.
I'm sure, if you've been reading the Bible for a long time, you know how often G-d commands us to be thankful. But, do you know what The Bible says about being ungrateful?
This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 3:1-7)
Have you ever thought of a lack of gratitude as a sin? I don't want to be among the ones who are listed with the above. Do you?
Have you ever thought about where a lack of gratitude can take you? This passage expounds further:
What is revealed is G-d’s anger from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people who in their wickedness keep suppressing the truth; 19 because what is known about G-d is plain to them, since G-d has made it plain to them. 20 For ever since the creation of the universe his invisible qualities — both his eternal power and his divine nature — have been clearly seen, because they can be understood from what he has made. Therefore, they have no excuse; 21 because, although they know who G-d is, they do not glorify him as G-d or thank him. On the contrary, they have become futile in their thinking; and their undiscerning hearts have become darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they have become fools! 23 In fact, they have exchanged the glory of the immortal G-d for mere images, like a mortal human being, or like birds, animals or reptiles!
24 This is why G-d has given them up to the vileness of their hearts’ lusts, to the shameful misuse of each other’s bodies. 25 They have exchanged the truth of G-d for falsehood, by worshipping and serving created things, rather than the Creator — praised be he for ever. Amen. 26 This is why G-d has given them up to degrading passions; so that their women exchange natural sexual relations for unnatural; 27 and likewise the men, giving up natural relations with the opposite sex, burn with passion for one another, men committing shameful acts with other men and receiving in their own persons the penalty appropriate to their perversion. 28 In other words, since they have not considered G-d worth knowing, G-d has given them up to worthless ways of thinking; so that they do improper things. 29 They are filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and vice; stuffed with jealousy, murder, quarrelling, dishonesty and ill-will; they are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of G-d; they are insolent, arrogant and boastful; they plan evil schemes; they disobey their parents; 31 they are brainless, faithless, heartless and ruthless. 32 They know well enough G-d’s righteous decree that people who do such things deserve to die; yet not only do they keep doing them, but they applaud others who do the same. (from Romans 1 CJB)
Not a feel good passage is it? We don't like to read passages like this, because they remind us of G-d's righteousness and holiness. But they are important because they explain why the world is becoming more evil. Ignoring G-d, not praising Him and thanking Him can lead to more sin and ultimately to death, eternally.
Thankfulness is a daily, sometimes moment by moment, discipline. We have to choose gratitude continually, because there is much in the news to cause us to fear, complain, and keep our eyes on the circumstances around us.
I've formed some habits around thankfulness, too. First thing in the morning, I say, "Praise the L-rd!" My first words in my morning journal are praises to my Father, and before I go to bed, I record in my journal three things I'm thankful for. It's a great way to start and end my day.
Let's choose gratitude, Gail-Friends, not just on Thanksgiving Day, but every day. I love this quote:
Those are golden rain tree blossoms in the background. I love how they look like little hearts. They are just one of the many little things I'm grateful for. They make me happy, happy, happy and give me JOY!
I hope you all have a day overflowing with thanksgiving tomorrow. When I count my blessings, you Gail-Friends are among them.
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