Let Us Show Gratitude

.

Let Us Show Gratitude

It’s a most awful feeling.      After staying up late,  working hard  for a long time,  and getting a job done well,  the benefactor  of our arduous efforts  doesn’t even mutter  a weak,  “Thank you.”      With a shrug of his shoulders,  he takes what was given  and just walks away.      There is no excuse  for such ingratitude.      God doesn’t excuse it either.

Hebrews chapter 12  describes  how by faith  we receive God’s gifts  of grace and eternal life.      We are really  deserving of terrible judgments,  but God Almighty  lovingly and freely  gives us salvation,  and makes us perfect  and holy  through faith  in Jesus Christ.      Because of God’s grace,  we can now freely approach  our Lord  for the forgiveness  we need.

Because we have been freely given  God’s promises,  and have learned about God’s warnings  against all  who practice unrighteousness  and unbelief,  we know  that God has promised  a day of final judgment  for all.      That will be  when He removes  all of creation  in judgment.      Hebrews describes it  as a shaking  and says that only  “those things which cannot be shaken”  will remain.      That is referring to heaven  and all those  who have been saved  through grace.

What a relief!      We are saved from Judgment Day  by faith  in Jesus Christ.      But,  that wondrous gift  comes with  a word of advice.      Hebrews 12:28-29  says,

Therefore,  since we receive  a kingdom  which cannot be shaken,  let us show gratitude,  by which  we may offer to God  an acceptable service  with reverence  and awe;  for our God is  a consuming fire.

We are  to have an attitude  of gratitude.      A heart of gratitude  shows  “reverence and awe“  for the almighty power of God,  who has faithfully loved us,  suffered and died for us,  and rose victorious  for us.      This same God  cares for us  day by day  in thousands of ways,  in spite of  our sins.      That sort of love  deserves to be loved  in return,  and given joyful thanks — every day of our lives.

God is pure,  perfect,  and most tenderly generous  in His love  towards us.      In the same breath,  God is also  most holy  and just.      Everyone  who chooses to be unbelieving,  irreverent,  proud,  and unthankful  will have to face  His  “consuming fire“  of judgment.      That has to be — because only what is holy  can remain  for all eternity.      That way,  as all God’s faithful  live through eternity,  we will never again  have to face sorrow,  evil,  temptations,  sickness,  or hardships  ever again.      Instead,  it will be  as Revelation 7:17  says,

God  shall wipe every tear  from their eyes.

Knowing we are loved,  we show gratitude  and thankfulness,  with a heart of love.      And we say,  “Hallelujah!      Lord,  You have done  all that we cannot do.      Without You  we are helpless  and hopeless.      Thank You  for choosing to love  and forgive us  in Christ Jesus.”

Love,
Margaret

 

.

A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

 

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

.

.

.

.