Gratitude

Did you know that there has been scientific research that suggests that gratitude has health benefits? Google it. You can find articles that tell you it increases happiness, reduces stress, leads to a healthier heart, helps you sleep, promotes physical health, and even changes your brain. You will also learn that the opposite of gratitude – ingratitude – can have detrimental effects on you, your life and your health.

We – us believers – should already know this because there are countless scriptures that tell us to be thankful. God’s word says, “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (I Thessalonians 5:18) It doesn’t say be thankful for everything, but in everything. As we study God’s word, we come to understand that gratitude should characterize the Christian life and speaks powerfully of our walk with Christ. Simply put - gratitude is looking up and ingratitude is looking down.

Once I had an incredible opportunity to visit an inner-city church with an amazing outreach program. They were sharing the gospel with gang members, drug dealers, and people most of us would be afraid to look in the eye. I sat in awe at a table for ten and listened to a former gang member tell of the terrible things he had done while he was lost. He was burdened as he spoke of the things that were inconceivable to me. He struggled as he shared about a life full of evil and despair. As he began to share how Jesus saved him, I noticed his whole demeanor changed. It was as if someone switched on a light bulb inside of him and he began to glow. His voice quivered as he talked about God’s grace. He almost shouted as he clenched his fist, pounded his chest and proclaimed, “Jesus died for me!”.

As I listened, his overflowing gratitude made an impression on me. Our salvation means we will spend eternity in heaven with our King. It means we will never have to endure hell. This brother in Christ understood hell in a way most of us never will; his life on the streets had been worse than any form of hell we could imagine. His salvation had great value to him and there are not words big enough for me to describe his gratitude. I left there that day changed.

Oh, if only our gratefulness matched the enormity of God’s gift, His only Son’s life for ours.

We can find plenty to be upset about… but we have reason to be grateful! Jesus left the right hand of God, came to earth in human form for us, was mistreated, questioned and mocked. He was blameless yet chose to bear our sin and die so we could have the hope of eternity with Him. He willingly bore our shame, suffered, was severely beaten and nailed to a cross to offer us this precious gift of salvation. Because of our sin, we could never be good enough to save ourselves. Therefore, Jesus paid the penalty for our sins and “God declares us ‘not guilty’ of offending Him if we trust in Jesus Christ, who in His kindness freely takes away our sins.” (Romans 3:24 LB) He shed His precious blood so we could be washed white as snow. God’s sacrifice of His Son, Jesus’ willingness to die for us, and His grace are indescribable and worthy of our immense gratitude.

Thanks be to God for this indescribable gift.

2 Corinthians 9:15

A point to ponder…

We have received a gift so great it is hard to comprehend. If we have accepted this gift, our life is new, our future is filled with hope and our eternity is secure. Today, let’s express our gratitude for this precious gift of salvation. Let the enormity of His gift overwhelm you.

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