Give Thanks
Scripture Reading: Romans 1:21
"Although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened."
When we think of thankfulness, it’s easy to frame it as mere politeness—good manners we learned as children. And while gratitude does reflect civility, Paul, in Romans 1:21, shows us a deeper and more profound truth about thankfulness: it is foundational to honoring God and living rightly.
Romans 1 lays out a sobering progression of humanity's fall into sin. Paul identifies two pivotal moments that trigger this descent: first, the refusal to honor God as God, and second, the failure to give Him thanks. These are not minor missteps—they are the roots of rebellion.
Unthankfulness is far more than impolite; it’s a declaration of independence from God. It’s humanity standing defiantly with arms crossed, saying, “I don’t owe anything to You.” It’s the prideful assertion that we are self-sufficient, rejecting the truth that every good thing we have comes from God (James 1:17).
Paul's warning rings true today. When ingratitude grows, it darkens the heart and distorts the mind. It leaves us unmoored, drifting further into futility and sin. Unthankfulness, at its core, denies the reality of God’s goodness, sovereignty, and provision.
But the message doesn’t end there. God invites us to repentance and restoration. Thanksgiving is not just an expression of gratitude—it is an act of worship. When we acknowledge our dependence on God and His abundant goodness, our hearts realign with His truth, and our lives reflect His light.
As you gather this Thanksgiving, remember: gratitude is not simply about counting blessings but about directing praise to the One who gives every blessing. Let your thanks rise not only for the gifts but also for the Giver. For in Him, we find not just the source of all we enjoy but the salvation we desperately need.
Let us repent of any ingratitude and live as people who honor God with thankful hearts, not just today but in every moment of life.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I’m experiencing a time of discouragement. I’m also experiencing a time of encouragement from the Lord. I’m learning to list all the things that discourage me are the things that I need to b
thankful for. When I’m discouraged, I thank God for the discouragement. In the Words of John Piper,
Thankfulness, for the Christian, is part of every experience. That’s what 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says: “Give thanks in all circumstances.” Ephesians 5:20 takes it further: “[Give] thanks . . . for everything.” When we are walking in the light of the truth, no emotion is more common in the Christian heart than happy thankfulness. Finally, consider the vastness of the benefits that Christians have. “He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32). All things! “My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ” (Philippians 4:19). “All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future — all are yours, and you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s” (1 Corinthians 3:21–23). It is only a matter of time, Christian, until you inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). Be patient, be faithful, and be thankful in everything all the time. We were made for this happy emotion.
I love you !