WE OUGHT TO BE THANKFUL LEST

give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus Our Lord.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18

We are admonished in the scriptures to give thanks, and not just when things are going well. Paul tells the Thessalonians to give thanks in all. When we fail to give thanks there are certain dangers that can result.

WE OUGHT TO BE THANKFUL LEST

JOY DISAPPEAR
1 Thes. 5:16-17 (ESV)
Rejoice always, [17] pray without ceasing,

Thankfulness always leads us back to the Father.

Ephes. 5:20 (ESV)
giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

A thankless person has taken their eyes off of the source of their joy.

WE OUGHT TO BE THANKFUL LEST ... HOPE & FAITH DISAPPEAR
Romans 5:1-5 (ESV)
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. [3] More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, [4] and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, [5] and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

We ought to long to have a heart that sees God at work in the midst of the darkest of nights.
Because a heart that sees God at work can not help but be thankful.

WE OUGHT TO BE THANKFUL LEST ... LOVE DISAPPEAR

Matthew 24:9-14 (ESV)
"Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name's sake. [10] And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. [11] And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. [12] And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. [13] But the one who endures to the end will be saved. [14] And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

What a great danger this is. While Jesus does not talk about being thankful here, the thought certainly applies. Christians who are not thankful risk having their love for the LORD and for other die and grow cold. A thankful heart cultivates and stirs up the affections toward God. The affection of love being foremost in that. But this passage points out another danger as well.

WE OUGHT TO BE THANKFUL LEST ... HOLINESS DISAPPEAR
1 Peter 1:16
since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Matthew 24:12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.

If we are not thankful for what God has done for us and continues to do in and for us, why would we want to listen to His commands? Why would we want to be holy? The answer is clear, likely we will not.

So even though Thanksgiving is over, let us cease to give thanks because it is a vital part of our Christian life.

Pastor Sloan

Charles Spurgeon on Gratitude

"0 Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul." Lamentations 3:58

Observe how positively the prophet speaks. He doth not say, "I hope, I trust, I sometimes think, that God hath pleaded the causes of my soul"; but he speaks of it as a matter of fact not to be disputed. "Thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul." Let us, by the aid of the gracious Comforter, shake off those doubts and fears which so much mar our peace and comfort. Be this our prayer, that we may have done with the harsh croaking voice of surmise and suspicion, and may be able to speak with the clear, melodious voice of full assurance. Notice how gratefully the prophet speaks, ascribing all the glory to God alone! You perceive there is not a word concerning himself or his own pleadings. He doth not ascribe his deliverance in any measure to any man, much less to his own merit; but it is "thou"-"O Lord, thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life." A grateful spirit should ever be cultivated by the Christian; and especially after deliverances we should prepare a song for our God. Earth should be a temple filled with the songs of grateful saints, and every day should be a censor smoking with the sweet incense of thanksgiving. How joyful Jeremiah seems to be while he records the Lord's mercy. How triumphantly he lifts up the strain! He has been in the low dungeon, and is even now no other than the weeping prophet; and yet in the very book which is called "Lamentations," clear as the song of Miriam when she dashed her fingers against the tabor, shrill as the note of Deborah when she met Barak with shouts of victory, we hear the voice of Jeremy going up to heaven-"Thou hast pleaded the causes of my soul; thou hast redeemed my life." O children of God, seek after a vital experience of the Lord's lovingkindness, and when you have it, speak positively of it; sing gratefully; shout triumphantly.

From Morning and Evening, morning November 20th