“In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ concerning you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
In the letter of the Apostle Paul to the Roman believers, in his description of those who were under the wrath of God by deliberate choice, he wrote a most revealing truth: “Because they knew not God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” (1:22) How can an act, and attitude, of unthankfulness be a characteristic of those rejecting the revelation of God, and incurring the wrath of God? The answer lies in the word, “faithlessness.” The man who comes to grips with his own sinfulness before God, and comes to know that everything good comes from God, especially as it concerns being saved from sin, is a thankful person. Indeed, the eclipsing, perfect and complete work of Christ accomplished on the cross, and which is attributed to the believer, is all of grace and the mercy of God. How thankful then should a believer be, first with regard to the eternal work of Christ applied to him for time and eternity, but secondly, with regard to life on this earth, where the effects of sin are known by everyone? To begin to answer this question, let us begin with what is meant by the word “thankful,” or the act of “giving of thanks.”
As we look at the various passages that deal with thankfulness, we first discover that to be thankful, there is a recognition of something offered. It is in the measure, and magnitude of the gift, that there should be the corresponding expression of thankfulness. The other aspect of this issue of recognition is the receiving of that which is offered. With regard to salvation, and faith being a “gift” of God, we see that man is at the mercy of His Creator and Redeemer. Man cannot recognize the “goodness” of God, as his eyes are clouded, tainted and distorted by the twisted images of sin. Unless the Master, the Lord Jesus Himself, by the Spirit, in essence, puts His hands upon the eyes of the sinner, anointing them to see something of the beauty of God in Christ, there will be little grasping of the reality of His good, and freely given grace, to see and receive. Paul writes that it is by the grace of God that man is saved through faith. He then adds, “…for this is the gift of God.” Previously, and throughout the epistles, Paul writes of those things which are “freely given to us of God,” (1 Cor. 2:12), first in a clear understanding, perception, or vision of them, but also, of the power, and enablement, offered, and provided by God, to receive them. It is as God opens the eyes of men’s hearts to see God in His goodness and mercy, understanding something of the “good tidings” of the Gospel, that God brings that person to the point of appealing to the mercy of God to intervene in the life to save, and sanctify him.
It would be the Lord Jesus who, in the gospels, would speak of the Heavenly Father’s relationship with His child. He would use the illustration of sinful men who give that which is, even in their eyes as good, to their child in need, in particular with regard to food. Jesus would summarize this lesson in this illustration by saying, “…”If you being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more, shall your Father which is in heaven, give good things to them that ask Him?” (Matt. 7:11) Elsewhere, in the gospel of Luke, the Lord said: “…how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him?” (11:13) Here we have the Lord of heaven and earth, saying to us that, “…every good gift and every perfect gift is from above…” (James 1:17) The man who is truly thankful sees the Sovereign God and Father as the provider of all things good. He sees the Lord Jesus as the Giver of life eternal. All is to be thankfully received by faith.
Dear Father, Give us receptive, thankful hearts, at all times. In Jesus’ name, Amen.