With the leaves turning red and gold right now, it seems that all of nature has paused to worship the Creator. And that’s exactly as it should be. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, the apostle Paul summarizes the Christian’s obligation to give thanks in 22 powerful words:
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
We read about this attitude of gratitude throughout the Bible. In fact, except for salvation itself, this is the most consistent theme in God’s Word. As David said in Psalm 34:1, “I will bless the LORD at all times, his praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
We should give thanks for the salvation we don’t deserve, for another day to serve the Lord, for the gift of family, and for the untold blessings that pass our way. But too often, we’re like the 10 lepers Jesus cured in Luke 17. Overjoyed at their healing, they rushed off to live their new lives. Only one, a Samaritan, returned to give thanks. The same can happen to those of us who have experienced God’s presence in our lives. We’re so eager to get on with life, even serving the Lord, that we don’t stop and reflect.
So in this season of Thanksgiving, and all through the year, pause and reflect and offer God your deepest gratitude for His abundant blessings.
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