Bible Ballistics: Vol. 17 No. 12 Perhaps A Simple Thank YOU?
I’d like to turn our attention to gratitude for a few minutes this evening—and yes, I know it’s not November; but gratitude is an attitude that we ought to cultivate every day of the year, not just in November, or on Thanksgiving Day! Gratitude is a biblical mindset, and we ought to pursue it daily. Paul gives us a list of godly characteristics that we are to cultivate, and I pray that we can be encouraged through the scriptures.
“Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks:
for this is the will of God
in Christ Jesus
concerning you.
19 Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophesyings.
21 Prove all things;
hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22
We can hardly rejoice and pray effectively when we don’t have a grateful spirit; for we can find ourselves caught up in a spirit of resentment, bitterness, and selfishness when we allow our attitude to forget to have scripture as our guide and not the world around us. We must reject the mindset of the world which most often is one of greed, lust, and self-gratification; rather than one of joy, prayer, and gratitude, and not “quenching” the Spirit of God! Ouch! There is an Old Testament passage that I think gives some great insight into this dilemma.
“The LORD liveth;
and blessed be my rock;
and exalted be the God
of the rock of my salvation.
48 It is God that avengeth me,
and that bringeth down the people under me,
49 And that bringeth me forth
from mine enemies:
thou also hast lifted me up on high
above them that rose up against me:
thou hast delivered me
from the violent man.
50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee,
O LORD,
among the heathen,
and I will sing praises
unto thy name.
51 He is the tower of salvation
for his king:
and sheweth mercy to his anointed,
unto David,
and to his seed
for evermore.” 2 Samuel 22:47-51
“I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen”! We are to give “thanks unto” The Lord, “among the heathen”, living a life of gratitude among a world of self, greed, and lust! We are to live a life that reflects WHO our “tower of salvation” IS! Part of the 100th Psalm reminds us of the awesome power of our Creator—our Lord—our Redeemer—our Savior!
“Make a joyful noise
unto the LORD,
all ye lands.
2 Serve the LORD
with gladness:
come before his presence
with singing.
3 Know ye that the LORD
he is God:
it is he that hath made us,
and not we ourselves;
we are his people,
and the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter into his gates
with thanksgiving,
and into his courts
with praise:
be thankful unto him,
and bless his name.
5 For the LORD is good;
his mercy is everlasting;
and his truth
endureth to all generations.” Psalm 100:1-5
Even as John recorded in the Book of the Revelation:
“And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying,
Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty,
which was,
and is,
and is to come.
9 And when those beasts
give glory
and honour
and thanks
to him that sat on the throne,
who liveth for ever and ever,
10 The four and twenty elders fall down
before him that sat on the throne,
and worship him
that liveth for ever and ever,
and cast their crowns
before the throne, saying,
11 Thou art worthy, O Lord,
to receive glory
and honour
and power:
for thou hast created all things,
and for thy pleasure
they are
and were created.” Revelation 4:8-11
And as John continues, regarding The Lamb of God “who takes away the sin of the world”, the only One who IS worthy to open the scroll/book.
“And they sung a new song, saying,
`Thou art worthy
to take the book,
and to open the seals thereof:
for thou wast slain,
and hast redeemed us to God
by thy blood
out of every kindred,
and tongue,
and people,
and nation;
10 And hast made us unto our God
kings and priests:
and we shall reign
on the earth.
11 And I beheld,
and I heard the voice of many angels
round about the throne
and the beasts
and the elders:
and the number of them was ten thousand
times ten thousand,
and thousands of thousands;
12 Saying with a loud voice,
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain
to receive power,
and riches,
and wisdom,
and strength,
and honour,
and glory,
and blessing.
13 And every creature
which is in heaven,
and on the earth,
and under the earth,
and such as are in the sea,
and all that are in them, heard I saying,
Blessing,
and honour,
and glory,
and power,
be unto him that sitteth upon the throne,
and unto the Lamb
for ever and ever.
14 And the four beasts said,
Amen.
And the four and twenty elders
fell down and worshipped him
that liveth for ever and ever.” Revelation 5:9-14
As God is “worthy” of our praise and our gratitude, we are to live worthy lives unto The One who loves us, and cares for us, and gave HIMSELF for our eternal life! Paul makes it clear that we are called to “walk worthy” of HIM who died for us.
“I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord,
beseech you that ye walk worthy
of the vocation
wherewith ye are called,
2 With all lowliness
and meekness,
with longsuffering,
forbearing one another
in love;” Ephesians 4:1-2
“For this cause we also,
since the day we heard it,
do not cease to pray for you,
and to desire that ye might be filled
with the knowledge of his will
in all wisdom
and spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy
of the Lord
unto all pleasing,
being fruitful
in every good work,
and increasing
in the knowledge of God;” Colossians 1:9-10
“As ye know how we
exhorted
and comforted
and charged
every one of you,
as a father doth his children,
12 That ye would walk worthy
of God,
who hath called you
unto his kingdom and glory.” 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12
And as we are thinking about gratitude, and walking worthy of our Lord, I simply want to direct our hearts and minds to that which our Lord taught us about a life of prayer—prayer that is focused on God, in His Word, and pursuing HIS will and HIS Kingdom in all we do.
“After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father
which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done
in earth,
as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day
our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil:
For thine
is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory,
for ever. Amen.” Matthew 6:9-13
When was the last time you/I said “thank you” to our God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit? May God truly help us to cultivate an “attitude of gratitude”, walking worthy of the blood that cleanses us from all sin! May others see a grateful heart reflecting The Lord who transforms lives!
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God,
and it doth not yet appear what we shall be:
but we know that,
when he shall appear,
we shall be like him;
for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him
purifieth himself,
even as he is pure.” 1 John 3:2-3 Amen!!!
Bible Ballistics 