Be Thankful
Unthankfulness is one of the great common sins of our time and one of the most disgusting sins which can be found. But like all sin which has become common, it is reckoned almost as not being sin. It is as much widespread among those who call themselves Christians, as among worldly people. This is in agreement with 2 Timothy 3:1-5. Unthankful and evil belong together, Luke 6:35. Unthankfulness comes from a proud, evil and demanding heart, which has great thoughts about itself and its own worth. Unthankful people lead a heavy and cheerless life and their existence is dark and sour. They are incapable of rejoicing properly about anything, but always have something to complain and fret about. Isn't it a self-contradiction when the self-same mouth, which grumbles and complains, says "It is all of grace"? Or do such persons complain about God's grace?
Humility is necessary in order to be thankful and he who is humble is thankful. The prouder the person, the greater is his unthankfulness. The humbler the person, the greater is his thankfulness. Here we have a reliable barometer with which we can measure our humility. Praised be God that there are people to be found on earth today, who are thankful for the least little thing. Everything is too good and too great for them. They are living in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. Are you one of them? How can such people be angry or offended, or think that they occupy an insignificant position in the church and are not valued enough? How thankful they are for their spouse, their children, their work; yes everything and everyone. First of all, however, they are thankful that they are a member of the body of Christ, and that they are called a brother or sister in the church, where they have recieved their position according to the will of God.
Is it possible to have a heart flowing over with thankfulness for everything and everyone, but which never flows over in the church? Let thanks and praise be heard from the mouths of every brother and sister at the meetings.
"Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me." Psalm 50:23
-- Author Unknown
Unthankfulness is one of the great common sins of our time and one of the most disgusting sins which can be found. But like all sin which has become common, it is reckoned almost as not being sin. It is as much widespread among those who call themselves Christians, as among worldly people. This is in agreement with 2 Timothy 3:1-5. Unthankful and evil belong together, Luke 6:35. Unthankfulness comes from a proud, evil and demanding heart, which has great thoughts about itself and its own worth. Unthankful people lead a heavy and cheerless life and their existence is dark and sour. They are incapable of rejoicing properly about anything, but always have something to complain and fret about. Isn't it a self-contradiction when the self-same mouth, which grumbles and complains, says "It is all of grace"? Or do such persons complain about God's grace?
Humility is necessary in order to be thankful and he who is humble is thankful. The prouder the person, the greater is his unthankfulness. The humbler the person, the greater is his thankfulness. Here we have a reliable barometer with which we can measure our humility. Praised be God that there are people to be found on earth today, who are thankful for the least little thing. Everything is too good and too great for them. They are living in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. Are you one of them? How can such people be angry or offended, or think that they occupy an insignificant position in the church and are not valued enough? How thankful they are for their spouse, their children, their work; yes everything and everyone. First of all, however, they are thankful that they are a member of the body of Christ, and that they are called a brother or sister in the church, where they have recieved their position according to the will of God.
Is it possible to have a heart flowing over with thankfulness for everything and everyone, but which never flows over in the church? Let thanks and praise be heard from the mouths of every brother and sister at the meetings.
"Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me." Psalm 50:23
-- Author Unknown