GIVE THANKS
Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. — Romans 1:21
A hospital chaplain kept a record of some 2,000 patients whom he had visited at a hospital. All of these patients who were at the point of death were very responsive to the word of God. Among those restored to health, he observed that only two showed a marked change in their spiritual lives after their recovery. In other words, when these people thought they would die, they accepted the Word of God and prayed for His healing grace. But when they recovered, they forgot about God.
That is how we can be sometimes. We cry out to God. He answers our prayers. Then we forget about Him. We rejoice in the blessing so much that we forget the one who blessed us. We delight so much in the gift we forget the giver. But the giver is more important than the gift. And nothing hinders our blessing more than ingratitude. The point is, we need to put as much zeal in thanking God for what He has done for us as we put into pleading with Him when we are in need.
In the Gospel of Luke, we read the story of the ten lepers who came to Jesus and pleaded for His mercy. The Lord instructed them to go and show themselves to the priests. As they went, they were cleansed of their leprosy. The Bible says only one of them returned to Jesus to give thanks. Then Jesus asked, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?” Of the ten, only one came to give glory and praise to God. (Luke 17:11-19)
What would you think of a person who always come to you for assistance, but never offers a word of thanks in return? Is there anything in your life that you need to give thanks for? See how far God has brought you in 2019?
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the many blessings you have showered on me since the beginning of the year.
Scriptural Reading: Romans 1:18-32
Year Of Wisdom
