RENEWING OUR MIND IN THANKFULNESS Part 4

May6

1Thess 5:16-18

Rejoice evermore.  Pray without ceasing.

In every thing give thanks:

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

 

David also understood how God works with us using adversity as well as peace, in his dealings with Shimei, 2 Samuel 16. We remember that account, so we won’t read it now.

  • Ps 119:71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
  • Ps 119:75 I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.

So the basis for thankfulness seems to be: understanding/wisdom, faith, and humility:

Do I understand God’s eternal purpose for me, using suffering on this earth to form my heart so that I can be prepared to serve him and reign eternally?

Do I believe God’s promises, including Rom 8:28-29 that he’s working all things for my good if I love him and am called according to His purpose to be conformed to the image of Christ?

Do I believe that He is ABLE to work all things together for my good?

  • 2Tim 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Do I believe He is WISE enough to know what I need better than I do?

  • Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counsellor?

Am I HUMBLE enough to realize that I am nothing without God, and that God does not OWE me anything?

  • Isa 40:10 Behold, the Lord GOD will come with strong hand, and his arm shall rule for him: behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. 11 He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.  12 Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance?  Isa 40:13 Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?  14 With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?  15 Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.

Do I realize that it is only by his great mercy that He is KIND to give me the good and perfect gifts that He does, including hardship and stress and loss?

  • Ps 113:1 Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. 2 Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore.  3 From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD’S name is to be praised.  4 The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.  5 Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high, 6 Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!  7  He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;

What if we forget to be thankful? We don’t mean it to, but look what our carelessness implies:

  • In English we have the expression, “to take for granted,” a description of the opposite of thankfulness or gratitude. This term means to assume something is expected and to fail to properly notice, value, or appreciate the gift or its source.
  • To fail to be thankful implies that gratitude is unnecessary because someone OWES you something.
  • Does God OWE us ANYTHING? Death for our sins, but nothing else! So if God owes each of us death, and instead gives us life, and breath and all things, Should we be grateful? Should we acknowledge his extreme goodness in returning good for my evil?

This brings us to another thought – Is true thankfulness just speaking our gratitude with the right heart?

Is just SAYING “Thank you” all that is required of me in return for the goodness of God toward me?

OR is TRUE thankfulness something that should cause us to change our lives? There are several scriptures that use the word requite (return) actions that show our thankfulness?

  • 2Chr 32:24 In those days Hezekiah was sick to the death, and prayed unto the LORD: and he spake unto him, and he gave him a sign. 25 But Hezekiah rendered not again according to the benefit done unto him; for his heart was lifted up: therefore there was wrath upon him, and upon Judah and Jerusalem.  26 Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.
  • Ps 116:12 What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?13  I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.14  I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.15  Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.16  O LORD, truly I am thy servant; I am thy servant, and the son of thine handmaid: thou hast loosed my bonds.17  I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.18  I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people,19  In the courts of the LORD’S house, in the midst of thee, O Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.
  • 2Cor 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:  15  And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.

    FERAH GLOTT

TO BE CONTINUED….

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