28 November 2014
Invisible thanks is no thanks at all
1 Chronicles 16:8
Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.
Pastor Dean was teaching on Wednesday night and told a story of a little boy who had a wonderful day with his grandparents and was thankful for the fun he’d had, but when asked to express his thanks to them for giving him such a fun day said, “I am thankful, I just don’t want to say it.”
Sounds like entitlement not thankfulness. The reason we teach children to say “thank you” when someone does something kind and special is because someone actually did something kind and special. What if those grandparents had that little boy over and just said they’d planned to take him to an amusement park, and then in actuality they all just sat on the couch all day. That kind of kindness would be just as invisible as the boy’s thankfulness.
Give thanks to the Lord...and proclaim...let the whole world know... The reason Scripture tells us to thank God actually and literally verbally in so many different kinds of expressions is because God actually and literally has done good things for us. He is to be thanked aloud and often because he DESERVES it! Invisible thanks is no thanks at all. I should not fall into a trap of entitlement, indifference, or laziness when it comes to be grateful to God. Since God has done real, wonderful, and tangible things for me, then I should gladly, willingly, and frequently actually truly thank him.
Dear God,
You are great and greatly to be praised. You don’t have to do anything for me, but you do, and I am so thankful for the good things in my life, forgiveness from my sins, and peace that is in my heart because of you. Thank you, thank you so much. Thanks for a great Thanksgiving Day yesterday visiting with family and enjoying your provision, love, and grace. Thank you so much for doing what you don’t have to do and for making my life whole and good. You give good things and take care of the ones who love and trust you. Thank you so much! And I love you very much and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
Invisible thanks is no thanks at all
1 Chronicles 16:8
Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done.
Pastor Dean was teaching on Wednesday night and told a story of a little boy who had a wonderful day with his grandparents and was thankful for the fun he’d had, but when asked to express his thanks to them for giving him such a fun day said, “I am thankful, I just don’t want to say it.”
Sounds like entitlement not thankfulness. The reason we teach children to say “thank you” when someone does something kind and special is because someone actually did something kind and special. What if those grandparents had that little boy over and just said they’d planned to take him to an amusement park, and then in actuality they all just sat on the couch all day. That kind of kindness would be just as invisible as the boy’s thankfulness.
Give thanks to the Lord...and proclaim...let the whole world know... The reason Scripture tells us to thank God actually and literally verbally in so many different kinds of expressions is because God actually and literally has done good things for us. He is to be thanked aloud and often because he DESERVES it! Invisible thanks is no thanks at all. I should not fall into a trap of entitlement, indifference, or laziness when it comes to be grateful to God. Since God has done real, wonderful, and tangible things for me, then I should gladly, willingly, and frequently actually truly thank him.
Dear God,
You are great and greatly to be praised. You don’t have to do anything for me, but you do, and I am so thankful for the good things in my life, forgiveness from my sins, and peace that is in my heart because of you. Thank you, thank you so much. Thanks for a great Thanksgiving Day yesterday visiting with family and enjoying your provision, love, and grace. Thank you so much for doing what you don’t have to do and for making my life whole and good. You give good things and take care of the ones who love and trust you. Thank you so much! And I love you very much and pray in Jesus’ name, amen.
RSS Feed