I have so much to be grateful for
– the people God has brought into my life, the family that I was born into and the many blessings He has poured out on me. And I’m truly thankful for all God’s work in my life.
But over the last few years, I’ve become increasingly aware that there is a vast difference between being thankful for the things God has given me and living a life of gratitude. Let me explain. . .
When we give a gift to someone, the most rewarding and pleasing thing for us as the gift givers is to see them enjoying and using the gift we have given them. And on the other hand the hardest thing is to hear, “Thank you so much for this gift! I love it.” And then to see our present thrown in the trash unused and unappreciated. Why? Because we sacrificed part of ourselves in the giving of the gift and it was tossed away like a piece of garbage.
When we harbour bitterness in our heart, allow anger to control us, refuse to forgive, when we turn away from God, when our thoughts are focused on our self, we are not living in gratitude of the costly sacrifice Christ paid for us. It’s as if we’ve thrown His gift into the trash and now live as if it is an insignificant factor in our life. We diminish the price God paid for our sins.
Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice to give us His most treasured gift. 1 John 4:9-10 (NLV) says,
“God showed how much He loved us by sending His one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through Him. This is real love — not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.”
So how do I live a life of true gratitude when I’m not perfect?
For me it has begun with allowing God to show me the depths of my depravity. Seeing my sin the way God sees it and stepping into the sorrow and heartache this sin has wrought in my life and in the lives of others. By doing this it has brought about a hatred for the sin and a passion to live in obedience to God and His Word.
God has also showed me that I cannot do this in my own strength; I have to live in dependence upon Him – seeking His way, His desires and His kingdom. As I’ve come to see myself for who I really am, it has allowed me to see God for who He truly is and has brought a deeper meaning to His incredible sacrifice that He paid for me.
So let me ask you the same questions I ask myself on a continual basis:
Are you living a life of gratitude to your Savior, who died to set you free?
Are you diminishing the price He paid for you by the choices you are making?
“But as God is faithful, our word to you was not Yes and No. For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me, Silvanus, and Timothy—was not Yes and No, but in Him was Yes. For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us. Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.” 2 Corinthians 1:18-22
The Christian life rests on a foundation of God’s promises for today and for the future. We can trust everything that our heavenly Father has said because His Word shows Him to be…
Truthful. The Lord knows what is true and speaks honestly in all matters. We can be assured of this because He is holy; there is no sin in Him. He is also omniscient and understands everything (Hebrews 4:12-13). His promises are based on His infinite knowledge and truthfulness.
Faithful. Scripture compares the Lord to a shepherd who “gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart” (Isaiah 40:11 NIV). What He has planned for us, He will bring to fruition (Romans 8:28). Our heavenly Father does not waver in His intentions or will.
Loving. God’s love for us was demonstrated at the cross. He sent His Son Jesus to die by crucifixion and thereby take the punishment for our sins. The Savior experienced God’s wrath against iniquity so we might know only His love. This is the ultimate proof of His devotion to us.
All-powerful. Divine power created the world and raised the Savior back to life, so we know God has the ability to carry out all His plans. Our omnipotent Father can keep every one of His promises.
A promise is valuable only if the one making it has trustworthy character and the ability to carry through. Our heavenly Father is truthful, faithful, loving, and all-powerful. We can base our entire life on His promises, secure in the knowledge that He will do just as He has said.
