Growing Gratefulness

God’s grace is unmerited, undeserved, and unconditional. Simply stated, it is not earned nor can it be repaid. God loves the unlovely, is kind to the coldhearted and saves the wicked sinner. Amazingly, He does this with no contractual agreement of reciprocity, no condition of lasting devotion, and no compulsional proof of repentance. Yet there is something God wants. There is a divine expectancy. Thankfulness.

God does what He does and loves like He loves with a hope, a faith even, that we will be grateful. God desires that we will have the decency, the honorableness, to show appreciation for His person and performance. “Because, although they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were they thankful…(Rom. 1:21).” This complaint is a revelation if viewed conversely. God desires glory and thanksgiving in light of His goodness.

Thankfulness is at first simple but transcends into a lifestyle. One begins with the common decency of telling God thanks. Thank him for life, for joy, for challenges, for mercy, for all things. As you thank God and show gratefulness, honor kicks in. You begin to recognize how inconsistent it is to receive gift after gift with thankfulness from someone that you do not respect or honor. So thankfulness leads to humility which produces devotion and service.

Let me be clear. Be grateful to God for everything. While we do not deserve His gifts, He certainly is worthy of our thanks. The real challenge is to grow your gratefulness to devotion and service. You cannot ever repay God for what He has done, but you can respect Him with your service and honor Him with your lifestyle.

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.
Psalm 51:16-17


Be grateful
Be godly