Purposeful Gratitude
Notes
Transcript
16 Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
I Choose to be Grateful
I Choose to be Grateful Whatever/Whenever Comes My Way
Because it is God’s purpose for my life
This week I want to encourage all to exhibit a heart and lifestyle of expressing gratitude toward GOD. Today we will focus on gratitude being my purpose and attitude, which is a settled way of thinking and feeling which is reflected in our behavior. Well Bro Evans, how can it become my attitude?
Paul is giving his final instructions for conduct as a child of God. Toward the end, he gives a trio, a set of 3 commands which are connected, and relate to time and the full scope of life. We know it “rejoice”, “pray”, and “give thanks”. Learn to embrace joy. Learn to pray throughout the day. They are related and feed one another!!
I Choose to be Grateful
Paul says “be thankful” or to “give thanks”, which means to express ones gratitude for grace, in all the forms it may be expressed. Thus all that comes from the grace of GOD is the cause or driver for gratitude!! It is a command in the active voice, which means God’s children have a choice on whether or not to be grateful. And the opposite choice, of course is ingratitude. There are some heart conditions that fight gratitude.
Application: The fact that it’s a choice means we need to know what other competing possibilities exists. Pride says it was all by my work, and therefore I boast in what I have accomplished. Entitlement says I deserve special treatment and what I want. Complaining says I’m highly dissatisfied with how I’m treated (which could be a legitimate feeling), but too much of that choice leaves no room for gratitude. It even conveys to GOD that we are attempting to test his nature, Israel in Num 14. Covetousness/Envy says I constantly look at and compare myself with what others have and I hate or strive to obtain their success. We have a choice to make, and we can choose to be grateful.
I Choose to be Grateful Whatever/Whenever Comes My Way
Well how often or when and where should I make this choice? Paul answers “in everything”. The present tense of “give thanks” indicates it should become habitual. Thus from a time aspect, it should be ongoing. “In” denotes a location, and “everything” denotes each and every circumstance. A circumstance are the surrounding facts and events that impact what happens in my life. “Give thanks” and “in everything” are grammatically tied together.
Application: That means we must develop the habit of expressing gratitude every day and no matter the events that surround and impact our lives. Not “for” the circumstances, but “in” the circumstances. As each day brings different or the same circumstances, we make the choice to say “God, we appreciate you for...”
Because it is God’s purpose for my life
Then Paul gives the reason for these three commands, and that is it is an important component of God’s design and purpose for living life as a body part of Christ!
Application: We should be motivated to make gratitude an attitude of and toward life when we understand that’s God’s purpose for us. It does not mean we accept mediocrity or no longer strive to achieve more and better, but we must make sure we are measuring ourselves to Christ and realize this life as a child of God is by grace, and thus GOD is at work in us to do what he purposes. Not the other way around.
While I have emphasized gratitude, I want us to see examples of it, as well as prayer and rejoicing.
Example 1 - David’s success with the design and supplies for temple, established continual thanksgiving
In 1 Ch 29:12-13, David had success obtaining all materials necessary to build the temple. But when he prayed, he acknowledged GOD, that all riches, honor, and strength come from him, therefore we praise and give thanks!! But even prior to the supply of all materials, preparing for temple operations, he re-assigned the duties of the Levites for temple service in 1 Ch 23:30, they were to stand every morning and evening and praise and give thanks to GOD.
Example 2 - Daniel and the threat of the lion’s den
It’s quite natural to give GOD thanks in response to success, strength, and honor. But what about when circumstances are not so favorable? Daniel, a young man when Judah was taken captive to Babylon. In a culture of competition. When Nebuchadnezzar’s dream couldn’t be determined by magician’s, all the wise counselor’s would be put to death. When GOD revealed it to Daniel, he said “GOD we give you thanks, for giving me wisdom and power”. And then under Darius, because his counterparts were jealous of the favor on his career, the plotted to catch him up regarding his devotion to GOD. Having their plot signed in law. Daniel 6:10 says when Daniel knew it was signed into law, he knew there was a huge threat, the circumstance was in no way pretty. It says he continued kneeling 3 times a day, praying and giving thanks to GOD, as he had previously done!! It was his habit, it was already his attitude while being in captivity.
Example - Job when he received news about his children
Job 1:20–21“20 Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped. 21 He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.””
Example - The apostles joy after being beaten by authorities
They had a run in with the courts in ch 4 telling them not to say anything else about Jesus, but they replied they couldn’t stop. They prayed for boldness from GOD in verses 29-30, and GOD shook the place and filled all with the Holy spirit and spoke with boldness. Sanhedrin gets them again and say “didn’t we tell you”. Planning to put them to death, Gamaliel cautioned them they could be fighting against GOD. They beat them. And verse Acts 5:40-41 says.
Somebody might ask “Why is this God’s purpose for me in Christ?” - 1 Co 14:16-17; Psalm 40:3;
Do you see gratitude as your purpose? Will you choose to be grateful, over all the other options you could choose? Will you choose gratitude every day and in every circumstance, where it’s not only tied to favorable circumstances? Will you make this choice realizing it is part of God’s purpose for being in Christ?