Songs of Encouragement

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The Importance of Gratitude

by Dr. Paul Chappell

“And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.”
Luke 17:15–18

No matter how much or how little we may have as the world measures resources, all of us have a great deal more than we deserve. The good things we enjoy are gifts from God, not the product of our ability. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17). Yet all too often our mouths and our hearts are filled with discontent rather than gratitude.
Rather than praising God for His goodness and mercy, we often take for granted the blessings we receive, even thinking that we deserve them. Evangelist D. L. Moody said, “We have in our churches a great deal of prayer, but I think it would be a good thing if we had a praise meeting occasionally. If we could only get people to praise God for what He has done, it would be a good deal better than asking Him continually for something.”
Moses warned the Children of Israel of the dangers of taking blessings for granted when they were preparing to enter the Promised Land: “Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage” (Deuteronomy 6:12). The more God does for us, the more risk we face of assuming His bountiful blessings are because of us rather than an expression of His grace and love. Let us never fail to be thankful for all we have received.
 

Today’s Growth Principle: 

In light of all the benefits we receive from God, it is a great sin not to be grateful.

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“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” -–John 16:33 The question “Why, God?” isn’t just one of life’s big questions… it is the question. During life’s most painful moments, many of us have asked God questions such as, “Why is this happening?” or “Why did my loved one die?” These are natural questions and it’s not wrong to ask them. In fact, in Scripture we find Mary and Martha asking this very question of Jesus when their brother Lazarus died. Jesus loved Lazarus and his two sisters and often spent time in their home. But Jesus wasn’t present when Lazarus grew ill. Lazarus was dead four days before Jesus showed up. So Martha confronted Jesus saying to him, “Why weren’t you here? Why didn’t you do something?” You see, a close personal relationship with Jesus didn’t prevent sickness and sorrow and suffering from attacking their family. And the same is true for us. Knowing Jesus does not give us immunity to hardship. Perhaps you’ve said or thought something similar in a time of crisis. “Lord, where were you when my parents divorced?” “Where were you when I was diagnosed?” “Jesus, where were you when I lost my job, savings, and house?” We’re each subject to the raw realities of a fallen world. But here is our hope: We don’t go through tribulation alone! Take heart! Jesus has given us his peace. He has overcome the world! KNOWING JESUS DOES NOT GIVE US IMMUNITY TO HARDSHIP.