Giving thanks is one of the most Christian things we can do. Paul told us about individuals who fell deep into sin because “although they knew God, they did not honor him as God and neither were they thankful” (Romans 1: 21).
Even Jesus took time to be thankful and to express his thanks to the Father. Jesus gave thanks before eating (John 6:23). When he stood at Lazarus’s tomb and prayed he said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me” (John 11:41).
We should follow Paul’s example of thankfulness. When he heard about people being saved, he thanked God (Romans 6:17; Colossians 1:12). “Paul thanked God God and took courage” when saw brethren in Christ (Acts 28:15). Paul also thanked God when he heard of the greatness of faith displayed in others (Romans 1:8).
Paul exhorted us to express thankfulness in everything we do. He wrote, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (Colossians 3:17). Furthermore, Paul’s spiritual maturity is demonstrated in his willingness to be thankful in every situation–good or bad. He said that we should be “giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 5:20).
We have much for which to be thankful. I pray we can take a few moments every day to think about how much God has blessed us. Rather than think about what we want, think about what God has given us already. Most of all, let us thank God for Jesus. Let us thank God for allowing us to be partners with him in Gospel work. “Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift” (2 Corinthians 9:15).
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