A Grateful Life

Introduction

I’d like to read a poem/prayer whose author is anonymous:

Even though I clutch my blankets and groan when the alarm rings each morning, thank you, Lord, that I can hear. There are those who are deaf.

Even though I keep my eyes tightly closed against the morning light as long as possible, thank you, Lord, that I can see. There are many who are blind.

Even though I huddle in my bed and put off the physical effort of rising, thank you, Lord, that I have the strength to rise. There are many who are bedfast.

Even though the first hour of my day is hectic, when socks are lost, toast is burned, tempers are short, thank you, Lord, for my family. There are many who are lonely.

Even though our table never looks like the pictures in the magazines and the menu is at times unbalanced. Thank you, Lord, for the food we have. There are many who are hungry.

Even though the routine of my job is often monotonous, thank you, Lord, for the opportunity to work. There are many who have no work.

Thank you, Lord, for the gift of life.

I want to continue our series of Thanksgiving inspired sermons that started with Tom’s message and continued last weeks message where we looked at teh meal of Thanksgiving that is the Lord’s Supper and talk about something that is simple yet forgotten every year - that our thankfulness or gratitude should be an attribute and way of life every day not just the holidays or even on Sunday mornings.

As God’s people, as Christians, we are called to live a life of gratitude and thanksgiving for all God has and currently does for us. Every Sunday we come around the table and remember and thank Jesus for his atoning death on the Cross. We have a meal of Thanksgiving, a Eucharist. Once again however, our gratitude cannot only be present at the table on Sunday it must be present throughout our life as followers of Jesus Christ.

On this subject Id like to once gain go to Paul who encapsulates up the Christian life with thanksgiving and gratitude. To truly be God’s people is to be a grateful people. We can divide this up in several ways.

Gratefulness leads to a loving attitude

Paul in says,

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Thankful Christian people are made up of individuals that are adopted into a family. This family is called to display the same characteristics of the one who founded this family: Jesus.

Theses characteristics or virtues are many, but they are all tied together by love. In the same way Jesus displayed His love by laying his life down for us. When we understand what Jesus went through.

When we understand that God himself came down into the cesspool of sin that is this world so that you might be raised up from it, how can you not be Grateful. And how can we not be a joyful, kind, giving, loving family!

Paul tells us in , that when we are baptized into Christ we have put on Christ. We have clothed ourselves with the righteousness that covers our stained sinful selves. Therefore, when we look at each other or when the world sees us, they see the virtues of Christ!

They see a grateful, faithful, humble people! Be a Thankful people that loves sincerely.

Gratefulness leads to passionate Worship

Continuing in Verse 16 says,

16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

Our worship should always be an opportunity to be thankful. No excuses, no exceptions. We already mentioned the Lord’s Supper last week as the center of our acts of worship, but know I’m talking about e our worship as a whole: corporate and private [Expand]

It is essential that we ask ourselves often, what am I here for?

What are we seeking in worship? Are we looking to be justified by the preaching or are we hoping to be challenged or inspired to serve? Are seeking to be entertained or participate in praise to God? Are we walking in complaining or are walking in thanking God for everything!

Rick Warren put it this way - “In happy moments, PRAISE GOD. In difficult moments, SEEK GOD. In quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD. In painful moments, TRUST GOD. Every moment, THANK GOD.”

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Be eternally thankful, and worship gratefully and passionately!

Gratefulness leads to Faithful Service

Finally in Verse 17, it says,

17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Because everything Jesus did in his mission was for us, it is only reasonable that we should do everything for Jesus. How could we not! He was pursued, he was tortured, he was crucified. He paid the price that we would have had to pay for eternity! So, can we show gratitude back.

Author William Arthur Ward said it best when he said, “Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.” I don’t know about you but when I wrap a gift, I intend to give to the one I love.

If you have been saved by the Grace of God through the blood of Jesus, you now what Jesus has done for you. Don’t just internalize your gratitude, show it by being a living sacrifice as Paul teaches us to be in Romans 12!

Express your thankfulness through faithful service.

Conclusion

As God’s people, as Christians, we are called to live a life of gratitude and thanksgiving for all God has and currently does for us. Knowing what Jesus has done for us means living out life out in gratitude through love, worship, service.

We may not always think of it this way, but Christians celebrate thanksgiving every day. And why not? We are redeemed, forgiven, made holy and new. How could we not be? Once again, Happy Thanksgiving!

C.S. Lewis one said "We ought to give thanks for all fortune: if it is good, because it is good, if bad, because it works in us patience, humility and the contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country."