Separated from friends, unjustly accused, brutally treated—if ever a person had a right to complain, it was this man, languishing almost forgotten in a harsh Roman prison. But instead of complaints, his lips rang with words of praise and thanksgiving!
This man was the Apostle Paul—a man who had learned the meaning of true thanksgiving, even in the midst of great adversity. Earlier, when he had been imprisoned in Rome, Paul wrote, “Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”
Paul’s joy is almost synonymous with his gratitude.” I thank my God whenever I think of you; and every time I pray for all of you, I pray with joy…” Every letter of Paul’s except Galatians, 1 Timothy and Titus speak of thanksgiving in some way! None of the letters by other authors, including the disputed Hebrews, opens with an acknowledgment of thanksgiving.
It appears that thanksgiving is a personal element particular to Paul. Paul often praises (i.e. thanks) God simply for who he is in himself. “How rich are the depths of God – how deep his wisdom and knowledge – …who could ever know the mind of the Lord? …Who could ever give him anything or lend him anything? All that exists comes from him; all is by him and for him. To him be glory for ever!”
A great expression of gratitude is the imitation of the person who has been good to us. When this person is God, it means accepting our share in the graces and gifts he so generously offers us. Receive and live the Gospel, as Paul writes to the Thessalonians: “Another reason why we constantly thank God for you is that as soon as you heard the message that we brought you as God’s message, you accepted it for what it really is, God’s message and not some human thinking; and it is still a living power among you who believe it”. The Gospel will continue to empower you for as long as you remain open and receptive of it with a thankful spirit.
God has given us the greatest Gift of all—His Son, who died on the cross and rose again so that we can know Him personally and spend eternity with Him in heaven: “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” The Bible tells us that we are separated from God because we have sinned. But God loves us—He loves you, He loves me—and He wants us to be part of His family forever. He loves us so much that He sent His only Son into the world to die as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. All we need to do is reach out in faith and accept Christ as our Savior and Lord: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, NIV).
In many countries, a special day is set aside each year for thanksgiving. But for the Christian every day can be a day of thanksgiving, as we are “always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”
Have you opened your heart to Jesus Christ? If not, turn to Him with a simple prayer of repentance and faith, and thank Him for what He has done for you. And if you do know Christ, how long has it been since you thanked God for your salvation? We should not let a day go by without thanking God for His mercy and His grace to us in Jesus Christ.