1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NASB95)
in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
This resolve is not new to me but one I must constantly remind myself of. Being grateful is a function of observation and understanding. You must recognize the object of gratitude as something you were not entitled to but the product of someone else’s kindness. Something undeserved.
There is a type of good manners that is reflected in expressing gratitude. If a server at your favorite restaurant refills your glass or serves your food, it is polite to say, “Thank you.” This expression is an acknowledgment of the person and their action. The server’s actions are motivated by employment. The smile, the tone, and the helpfulness of a recommendation may come from a heart of helpfulness and kindness, but the basic performance of duty did not. I would argue (biblically) for the helpfulness of kindness, but the “gratitude I am speaking of comes from a place of recognizing grace.
If a co-worker picks up your duties so you can get home early, that’s grace. If someone holds the door for you, that’s grace. If God causes the sun to rise, your heart to beat, and the birds to comfort you with a song in the Spring…that’s grace. It is undeserved kindness…and it is all around us.
There is no greater expression of grace than our forgiveness and right standing with God (for those who follow Jesus). To settle the spiritual debt of my rebellion against God, Jesus walked the earth, lived perfectly, and substituted Himself at the judgment of God’s wrath against sin/rebellion. He did so, not for His own sin, but for mine. The resulting “Paid” that I received, stamped on my “sin bill,” is all by God’s grace. An undeserved kindness! Furthermore, the benefit of this grace extends into all areas of my life. It provides peace, confidence, fellowship with others, life, breath, provision…everything! So, when I rise early for the privilege of work, eat a meal, put gas in my truck and pay for it from my checking account, shop in a market, or simply sit in quiet this morning in a warm home with electricity and heat and a cup of coffee…I am GRATEFUL because every element is a byproduct of God’s kindness, favor, and provision in my life. So, I say, THANK YOU…to the Lord in humility and gratitude before Him; and “Thank you,” to the vessels through which He chooses to provide these things…as an acknowledgment of their presence and actions.
Be grateful today. Ask the Lord to enlighten your eyes and mind to His kindness toward you as you acknowledge it. Thank you for following along. It is an undeserved kindness to me and encourages my heart.
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