Good News from the Stony Creek Church of Christ

Let us give thanks!

There was a man with a habit of grumbling about life, but every time his family ate, he always gave thanks for the food.

One day after complaining about work and then complaining about the food, after he gave thanks for the food, his little girl asked, “Daddy, does God hear us when we pray?” “Why, of course,” he replied. “He hears us every time we pray.”

She paused for a moment and asked, “Does He hear everything we say the rest of the time?” “Yes, dear, every word,” he replied, excited that his daughter was thinking about God. But his pride came before his fall with her next question, “Then, which does God believe?”

Can you relate? I know I can.

Ephesians 5:20 says, “Give thanks always for all things.” Can we all agree we are more likely to complain about everything than we are to give thanks for everything? That is so sad because we are so blessed! But here we are, in America, one of the richest nations, blinded to our blessings and seeking things to gripe about.

Ever notice how we do that? We do not praise and thank God like we should! Also, notice it says we are to ALWAYS give thanks for ALL THINGS. There has been no shortage of God’s blessings; likewise, there should be no limit to our gratitude. Do we understand why the Bible puts so much emphasis on giving thanks?

Let us not forget that giving thanks has always been the battleground.

In Genesis 3:1-4, God knew what man needed was a heart of gratitude towards Him and what He had given them, but Satan convinced Eve she had the right to feel ungrateful and slighted by God. Satan got Eve focused on God’s one restriction rather than the many, many blessings God provided for them (all those trees, except the one tree) in this wonderful garden.

Do you know how I know they were not grateful? Because God’s blessings were not good enough. Is that not true with us? I get focused on the one thing God says I cannot enjoy and suddenly I struggle to find a way to be thankful for an entire world full of blessings. So, what do I do? I become ungrateful and complain.

Romans 1:26-31 has this whole list of ungodly, terrible things that are fundamentally destructive to societies, nations, and the world. Paul says in Rome (where they live) there were people like this. In Romans 1:21, Paul says, “because, 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.”

Do you know what happened in Rome? Or Greece, Babylon, Egypt, Jerusalem, or any society that has ever been destroyed because of ungodly corruption? Do you know why the world is being destroyed? At the heart of it all, people are ungrateful. Let us remember that the next time we complain, instead of giving thanks.

Let us not forget for whom we are to give thanks.

Psalm 103 commands us to thank God and forget none of His benefits. 1 Timothy 6:17 says, “God gives us richly all things to enjoy.”

Do we give thanks for our food? Are we thankful that we do not have to worry about where our next meal comes from? Or do we take our food for granted?

Do we give thanks for our possessions? We tend to have an overabundance of those in this country. Even when we do not, we are rich compared to most people in the world. They are gifts – let us not lose sight of the Giver.

Do we give thanks for our life/health? In Isaiah 38:1-6 Hezekiah was in tears, pleading with God and God gave him 15 more years. But Isaiah 38:15-20 recounts a prayer where Hezekiah said, “If I am dead, I can not praise you, let me live and I shall praise you.” Let us use what time we have left to praise and give thanks to God who has given us life.

Do we thank God for His offer of salvation? We are all lost and dead in our sins (Rom 6:23; Eph 2:2-3), but because of God’s great mercy and love (sacrificed His only begotten Son) to extend a message of forgiveness and grace to you (Eph 2:4-9). What will you do about that? Will you repent and be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins, just like those lost souls did in Acts 2:38, 41? There is no greater blessing to give thanks. Grace leads to forgiveness, and forgiveness leads to thankfulness. Are you grateful? Have you been forgiven?

Visitors are welcome and valued. We meet at 15530 Herriman Blvd., Noblesville. Our phone number is (317) 219-5852. We meet for Sunday morning Bible Study at 10 a.m. and have classes for all ages. Worship begins at 11 a.m. and we have a Bible Study Wednesdays at 7 p.m. A warm welcome awaits!