1 Thessalonians 5:18
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Giving thanks is an important act in the life of a saved person. We are even commanded to do so in the Word. But giving thanks repeatedly can easily become a superficial ritual. Let us tie our last two messages together to synergize a third…
Thanksgiving is an intentional, momentary action. It is literally expressing your gratitude for something. We usually do this when we are pleased with something we have received or something that has been done for us. These words can grow hollow over time as we continuously utter them for everything.
We serve a loving God who gives us everything out of love for our benefit and growth. The Lord does not give us anything superficial and we must be careful that our thanks is not given superficially.
Beloved, thanksgiving is a passing thing; it is something done in the moment. If we are not careful and devoted, we can overlook the daily blessings we receive. We serve a loving and giving Lord who deserves our freely given love and gratitude.
The Old Testament used the Hebrew word todah. The ancient meaning of the word is to cast or throw, to confess, to give thanks. It is extending the hands, praising. It is an intentional, momentary act. Under the law, todah became a sacrifice, an offering. It was commanded because so many were ungrateful.
In the New Testament, the word for thanks is eucharisteo. The word is from the Greek charis (grace)and its derivative chara (joy). Think of it this way: before a meal we say “grace,” just as Christ did. We are expressing our thankfulness, our joy. In the Greek, however, it can also be rendering gratitude.
Gratitude is from the Latin gratus (and some say gratis). This is the root of the word grace. It is also a relative of grateful, the ancient definition of which is the desire to repay favors.
Wow! That’s a lot to take in. Most of us are simple folk who just give thanks. And we should be. We can all agree –hopefully—that giving thanks, showing gratitude, being grateful is pretty much all the same…an intentional act, being mindful of what we have instead of what we desire, and expressing that to the Lord. It is a repayment of the blessings we have received.
How do we repay the God who is and has everything? How do we practice gratitude? By loving. We love the Lord, we love others. It is an expression, it’s charity, it’s caring. We love everyone for the sake of the Lord who freely loves us and provides for all of our needs; the Lord who freely gave Himself to pay for our sins.
We have already discussed giving and love. It is our calling, it is our ministry, it is our reasonable service…
Matthew 22:37-39 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
God is love and He wants our love, given freely and cheerfully. We may give thanks verbally but we express our thanks through sacrifice and service, through giving to others… through love. We praise the Lord by giving thanks in every situation and circumstance by loving others. In good times and in bad, we give thanks for all that we have been given. By giving we share the love of Christ so that others may know it and receive His love themselves.
Beloved saints, love one another! Is there any other greater form of giving?
In brief, consider this:
- Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:20)
- For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. (2 Corinthians 4:15)
- Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9:11)
- By him, therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. (Hebrews 13:15)
- Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)
- And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (Colossians 3:15)
A Special Note:
We here at 2 Shirts Ministry practice gratitude every day through our love of others. The Lord has been good to us always and we want others to know that goodness, that faithfulness, that love.
We want to show others that they are valued and important in the eyes of God. He sent His son to save us all, no matter our position or circumstances. Everyone deserves to be shown love, dignity, respect, grace, and mercy.
We hope that you will express your gratitude daily in every situation so that you may know the peace and love that comes only from Jesus Christ.
We live to help others, if you are called to help, please pray and check out this page.
God Bless you all,
Chaplain Maloney