Gratitude: April 29, 2010

April 29. TODAYS WORD FOT THURSDAY APRIL 29, 2010.

GRATITUDE

DEFINITION:

The quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful.

SCRIPTURE:

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. Romans 1: 21.

KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE:

Here in America we are not certain that many people understand what the word “GRATITUDE” really means. We say this because most of the people we meet and talk to do not seem to be grateful for much in their lives. Possibly we are spoiled and expect much more than we have and possibly it is because of the so called “ME” generation that we live in. We have taken our prosperity for granted. Not only do we really appreciate how blessed we are, we think we are entitled to it.

In the above verse found in Romans 1, we read that the apostle Paul was saying that those that lived before them, the unrighteous, even though they knew God were not thankful and showed no gratitude toward Him for all that he had done for them. They did not glorify God and thus their foolish hearts were darkened. God expects us to be grateful for what He has given us and to at all times glorify His name.

Let us take you to several places of this world where we have visited and spent time with the people that live there. These are just examples how situations in life change ones attitude about gratitude. Remember here in America we have had so much given to us and for the most part we have accepted what God has blessed us with and have not done so with gratitude.

Come with us to Manila Philippians and to a large garbage dump where over 100,000 people live. Each day these dear people search through garbage scraps dumped by the garbage trucks for food and anything that can be salvaged and sold for money just for survival. The people live in lean-to shacks that look like they will collapse with any kind of wind.

We were walking on this dump being led by a missionary that we worked with. We had for over ten years sent Christian literature, Sunday school booklets, medicines and hospital supplies to this country. We came upon this lean-to shack with an open front and saw a little 10 year old girl sitting by a box, the only thing in the room, and on that box was a Sunday school daily vacation Bible school picture booklet.

We were introduced to the little girl and soon we asked about the book. Her eyes lit up and she said that someone a year before had given her that book and she read through the pictures every day. She said that she had never had a gift before and this was the best thing she ever had. HER GRATITUDE MOVED US TO TEARS. This was one of the books we had sent several years prior and this little girl was still showing her gratitude for what God had given her.

We could give you scores of similar illustrations of children, youth and adults in other parts of our world that showed such love and gratitude to God for what they had. Just like the mother in a children’s ward in a hospital in Honduras who was crying and even sobbing because we gave her some cancer medicine that could save her child’s life. Her sobbing was expressing her gratitude to God for supplying the need of her child just in time.

And we will never forget being in the church in Kenya when the offering was taken and we saw the box being passed around full of fruit, vegetables and even a chicken. These people were showing their gratitude to God for all they had by giving a portion of what they did have back to Him. That is real gratitude that most of us do not experience.

How do you express your gratitude first to God for all that He has given you. Do you express gratitude to your spouse, your children, your parents, your family or your friends for who they are? God expects us to show gratitude to Him for His blessings to us. How do you respond?

LEARNING:

Our memory verse for this week is found in Isaiah 53:6.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord laid on Him the iniquities of us all.

PRAYER:

Help me to learn the true meaning of gratitude. Just as many people in our world do today, I take for granted what You have done for me. Thank You Lord for the many blessings that You do give each of us daily.