For the last two weeks I’ve purposed to center our thoughts on this simple passage from 1 Thessalonians 2. In it we have seen some marks of faithfulness to Christian life and ministry.
Today’s post will wrap up my thoughts and I hope that, somewhere in the process, we have been challenged in our walk. C.S. Lewis once wrote that “An ungrateful heart is the first step toward apostasy.” I have seen this reality played out more times than I can count so let’s look at the priority of maintaining a thankful attitude as we follow Christ.
“We also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.”– 1 Thessalonians 2:13
GRATITUDE
There were few things that earthly life offered Paul that he could be thankful for. Truly he carried his own cross as he followed after his Lord. He was beaten, imprisoned, slandered, hunted, shipwrecked and eventually martyred for his faith. When Paul expressed thanks to God it was most often in the realm of his pilgrimage of faith. Here he is telling the Thessalonians that one of the things that he was grateful for was their reception of his ministry to them. This is the greatest treasure to those who serve Christ without guile or self-glory. Let’s take a peek at what I’m talking about.
The servants of God are not looking for applause and recognition. It is nice to be appreciated but certainly not necessary and never to be expected. Paul was able to get alone with God and offer thanks that the fruit of his ministry was that his followers had received his testimony concerning Christ as if it had bypassed Paul completely and had arrived straight from God Himself. Paul was not thankful because he was admired, applauded or adored. He didn’t raise up a ministry in his own name – there never has been paulthegreatapostle.com. Paul did not rejoice because he had a burgeoning flock or an incredibly prosperous financial situation. This dear saint was not praising God because of an easy pathway or a “special someone” always by his side. Paul was thankful because he had been an eyewitness to the awakening of faith in the souls of simple people who treasured God’s truth as he did. For the spiritual leader there are few, if any, greater rewards than to know that people are growing in grace and wisdom. John rejoiced that his spiritual children were walking in the truth. Servanthearted saints have been doing the same for the last 2,000 years.
In our generation we prioritize good grades but minimize growing godliness in our children and grandchildren. Home runs on the ball field are exalted while scripture memorization is rarely mentioned. A promotion at the office is earnestly sought after in prayer but how many petition God for greater opportunities to serve others? We ache for the bodies of our loved ones to be healed but think little of their spiritual sick souls. Do you agree with me that most of what we are praying over and thankful for resides in the realm of the temporary and earthly? Maybe this is some of the reason why few of us can experience a deep and prolonged contentment of soul.
Are we becoming people who are grateful for temporal relief at the expense of eternal treasure?
My Christian friend, did you stop this morning to remember that all your sins are expunged and that your standing before God is righteous and secured? He chose you before He framed the cosmos and ordained that you would be with Him for eternity. He pursued you in time and procured you in a moment of your personal history and declared you to be justified through His Son! He fixed His gaze upon you and has spoken a thousand times that He will be to you an everlasting Father. He pledged to you His abiding presence and faithful shepherding. He carries you in weakness, empowers you in faith and transforms you into the likeness of the One who died and rose and lives forever for you! You, precious one, have been ransomed, redeemed and reborn! God did that for you and, if you are not careful, you will look at this grand truth as a footnote to your “real life” rather than the bold headline. Oh, friends, eternal salvation and oneness with God IS real life. All else will fade. His glory will only increase in the hearts of those who gratefully abide in Him. Be that man. Be that woman.
Be aggressively thankful today.
Jose will know the writer of the beautiful praise song GIVE THANKS with a grateful heart, give thanks to the Holy One, give thanks because He’s given Jesus Christ, His Son…And now let the poor say I am rich, let the weak say I am strong because of what the Lord has done for us–Give Thanks.(and all God’s people said “Amen”)