Gratitude: A feeling of thankfulness and appreciation.
Appreciation: Understanding of the nature, meaning, quality or magnitude of something.
Truly understanding who God is, what He has done and what it means, leads to a heart of gratitude. It is not the house we live in, the job we may have, our good health, or even our family, or friends that evoke the true mindset of a thankful heart. Albeit, these are all amazing and undeserved blessings and most of us could come up with a very long list.
But the genuine heart of thankfulness lies in understanding – agreeing with who God is, realizing what He has done and accepting what He offers.
Who is God? He alone is the Most High over all the earth (Psalm 83:18). His name is power and authority, Jehovah – the self-Existent and Eternal Lord. God is Supreme, elevated over the entire world. God’s name is to be honored and revered; He is glorious and awesome (Deuteronomy 29:58). God is Creator (Genesis 1:1) and therefore owner and ruler of all mankind, every living and non-living thing, the known and unknown universe, all of what we see and do not see. God is righteous and He is perfectly just (Ezekiel 9:15).
This is God – Do you understand and agree?
What did God do? God redeemed mankind from the penalty of sin (Proverbs 14:12). He is our salvation (John 10:9). In His name alone we have been ransomed (Acts 4:12). Through His grace we are delivered from sin (Matthew 1:21; Acts 15:11). God gave us His Son, Jesus Christ (Matthew 16:16; Luke 2:11). Jesus suffered and died for man even while man is so undeserving. Acts 2:36 says, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ – this Jesus whom you crucified”. God acted on our behalf because of His great love for us. Ephesians 1:7-8 says, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight”.
This is what God did – Do you understand? Are you aware of His immeasurable sacrifice and gift to mankind?
Have you accepted what God offers to you?
“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins”. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)”. “In order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:1; 4-5; 7).
We are sinful but because of God’s love we have been given a way to avoid the penalty of sin we owe which is death, eternal separation from God. The blessings of God are poured upon His children as they bow before Him. Accepting Christ as Lord and Savior opens the door to heaven. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, [it is] the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast”.
We are unable to earn the gift God offers to us through His Son. We can only bow before Him and humbly accept His offer of grace.
A genuine heart of thankfulness lies in understanding – agreeing with who God is, realizing what He has done and accepting what He offers. Have you accepted the greatest gift offered to mankind? If so, Thanksgiving will mean so much more than external blessings. Appreciation for the magnitude of who God is and what God has done will fill your heart. This is genuine gratitude and Thanksgiving.
