My favorite line from the Word of God about thankfulness is from Paul's letter to the Church at Ephasus:
“…giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20).
What I love about this is its specificity about when and how we are to give thanks.
When: Always. For anything and everything under every circumstance, good or bad. Paul also wrote, “In everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
How: In Jesus' name. Often we think of praying in Jesus' name when we are asking for things, so I found it striking that our prayers of thanks are also to be in Jesus' name.
This really speaks to what God wants. What do you get or do for the Man, the God-Man, or God, who already has everything? His end goal isn't our stuff.
He wants our love. He wants to be loved. He has done much to love us—first—and all He really wants in return is gratitude for His blessings on us.
This is seen throughout the Scriptures. I most recently came across this in 2 Chronicles 20:21, “Give thanks to the Eternal because His loyal love is forever!”
These things only make sense for those who have a reconciled relationship with God. That is the first matter to address, and that gives us the first thing for which to be grateful.
This is also what makes the rejection of God so strange. He is a good God Who wants to do good things for people. How hard is it to be thankful for that?
“…giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20).
What I love about this is its specificity about when and how we are to give thanks.
When: Always. For anything and everything under every circumstance, good or bad. Paul also wrote, “In everything give thanks” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
How: In Jesus' name. Often we think of praying in Jesus' name when we are asking for things, so I found it striking that our prayers of thanks are also to be in Jesus' name.
This really speaks to what God wants. What do you get or do for the Man, the God-Man, or God, who already has everything? His end goal isn't our stuff.
He wants our love. He wants to be loved. He has done much to love us—first—and all He really wants in return is gratitude for His blessings on us.
This is seen throughout the Scriptures. I most recently came across this in 2 Chronicles 20:21, “Give thanks to the Eternal because His loyal love is forever!”
These things only make sense for those who have a reconciled relationship with God. That is the first matter to address, and that gives us the first thing for which to be grateful.
This is also what makes the rejection of God so strange. He is a good God Who wants to do good things for people. How hard is it to be thankful for that?
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