11/24/2020: Diminished expectations lead to ingratitude. Without a doubt, Americans are the most abundantly blessed people on the planet. Yet our expectations often hinder our attitude of gratitude. Though flooded with blessings from the hand of our gracious God, we often expect too little from Him by doubting His promises, and are thus blind to the abundance He pours upon us. Our expectations are often misguided; expecting Him to answer our prayers according to our wishes rather than seeking His will and glory. When He attempts to shape us for His glory we complain with callous hearts. Each of these responses is inappropriate among God’s people. We, above all people, should understand the need for a proper appreciation of the bountiful gifts bestowed by our Father.
Many people will express thanks this week for numerous benefits they enjoy. People will tell you they are thankful for their family, their health, their house. And they may even begrudgingly express thanks for their job. But there is a big question to ask when people start expressing thanks: thankful to whom? Who is worthy of our gratitude for all these treasures we hold dear? Are we to credit blind chance, fate, karma, circumstances or coincidence for all our blessings? Many will thank their parents or their spouse, their teacher or their boss, their neighbors and friends. It is a classic characteristic of unregenerate people to demonstrate ingratitude, or to give thanks to some ambiguous or innocuous force for their blessings. Romans 1:21 reminds us clearly that fallen unregenerate sinners are without excuse when they deny the existence of God, and that even though they have abundant evidence of His existence and beneficence, “they neither glorified God nor gave thanks to him.” Believers, on the other hand, know the One from Whom all blessings flow. We readily acknowledge the providential hand of God as the source of our existence and sustenance. We unashamedly declare that “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, Who does not change like shifting shadows” (James 1:17).
Because of our intimate knowledge of Jehovah, the Great I AM, we understand the tremendous privilege that is ours to gather together in thanksgiving before Him.We find an interesting call to worship in Psalm 107:1-3. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say this— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.Friends, if you have been delivered today you have reason to rejoice and give thanks. Your wandering is ended, your shackles have been torn asunder, your sickness has been healed and your storms have been stilled. If you are still wandering in sin, pining away in a self-imposed prison, reeling from the rebellion that brings sickness to your soul and sinking in the storms of life there is hope! There is a Savior who listens to the pleas of those whose hearts are humbled and repentant. Isaiah 55:6-7 says, “Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.”We want you to know Christ Jesus as Savior so you can be a part of the chorus of the redeemed! That’s why this we’re here…… Mike
That You May Know (1 John 5:13)
That You May Know Ministries 