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“Neither Were Thankful”
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,”
Romans 1:20–22
The increasingly godless culture that surrounds us is filled with evil, but this is hardly the first time God’s people have lived in a sea of wickedness. The same was true in the first century when the early church was setting out to take the gospel to the world. The Roman Empire was filled with violence and immorality, and was very hostile to the new religion spreading from Jerusalem across their territory. Yet when the Apostle Paul described the society in which evil reigned, he began by accusing them of one particular sin—ingratitude.
Every person on Earth, the saved and the lost, benefit from the amazing grace that God freely provides. No man is able to make the sun shine, cause the winds to blow, or do any of the other essential things that make life possible. Were it not for the benefits provided by God, we would have nothing. Matthew 5:45 tells us that our Father which is in Heaven, “Maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
As children of God who receive not just His natural benefits, but also eternal salvation, we have a special responsibility to be thankful. There is no excuse for us not to praise and glorify God, not just once a year, but every single day. Charles Spurgeon said, “When joy and prayer are married, their firstborn child is gratitude.”
Romans 1:20–22
The increasingly godless culture that surrounds us is filled with evil, but this is hardly the first time God’s people have lived in a sea of wickedness. The same was true in the first century when the early church was setting out to take the gospel to the world. The Roman Empire was filled with violence and immorality, and was very hostile to the new religion spreading from Jerusalem across their territory. Yet when the Apostle Paul described the society in which evil reigned, he began by accusing them of one particular sin—ingratitude.
Every person on Earth, the saved and the lost, benefit from the amazing grace that God freely provides. No man is able to make the sun shine, cause the winds to blow, or do any of the other essential things that make life possible. Were it not for the benefits provided by God, we would have nothing. Matthew 5:45 tells us that our Father which is in Heaven, “Maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”
As children of God who receive not just His natural benefits, but also eternal salvation, we have a special responsibility to be thankful. There is no excuse for us not to praise and glorify God, not just once a year, but every single day. Charles Spurgeon said, “When joy and prayer are married, their firstborn child is gratitude.”
Today’s Growth Principle:
Take time today to give thanks and praise God for His goodness to you.
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