In Everything Give Thanks

We should always be thankful to God for all the blessings He has bestowed upon us (I Tim. 5:18). Too often, we neglect to give thanks for God’s bounty. I want to remind us of a few things for which God’s word tells us we should be thankful.

First, let us be thankful for His Holiness. “Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness” (Psalms 97:12). Holiness is separateness; set apart. God is truly the only Holy One. We can only try to be like Him, whereas He is Holy by virtue of His nature. Consider:

  • There is no one like Him: Exodus 15:11 – Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
  • His name is Holy: Psalm 99:3 – Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy.
  • He is holy in all His works: Psalm 145:17 – The Lord is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
  • His throne is Holy: Psalm 47:8 – God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.
  • His temple is holy and demands a response of respect and awe: Habakkuk 2:20 – But the Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him. Again in Exodus 3:5 – And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

His holiness demands a response from us: I Peter 1:15-16 – But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; [16] Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

Second, let us be thankful for His Mercy. “O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever” (I Chron. 16:34). Mercy is “compassion: kindness or forgiveness shown especially to somebody a person has power over.” God does not have to be merciful to us. But God is the Father of mercies (II Cor. 1:3). He gives mercy, as He gives grace and peace: “Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord” (I Tim. 1:2). I am thankful for His mercy because He saves us by it: “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost” (Tit. 3:5). Therefore, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb. 4:16).

Third, I am thankful for His Unspeakable Gift (II Cor. 9:15). Paul explained, “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. [16] And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. [17] For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:15-17). I am thankful that while the wages of sin is death, the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ (Rom. 6:23).

Fourth, I am thankful for the Victory He affords us. “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (I Cor. 15:57). “O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory” (Psalm 98:1). Not even death can ultimately gain the victory over us because of Christ. “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. [55] O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? (I Cor. 15:54-55). We obtain that victory ultimately by being faithful to Him. “ For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (I John 5:4).

Finally, I am thankful for the reward of an Inheritance He has promised us for faithfulness. “Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light” (Col. 1:12). We should have confidence, and be thankful, because we know the Lord will reward us with a great inheritance because we serve Him (Col. 3:24). We know that he that overcomes will inherit all things the Father hath promised to those follow Him regardless of the consequences (Rev. 21:7). Christ has become the Mediator of the New Covenant so that we might receive the promise of this eternal inheritance (Heb. 9:15). We will not receive a laurel wreath that fades and decays over time, but we will receive “an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven” for us (I Pet. 1:4).

For these and many other blessings, both spiritual and material, I am indeed thankful both now and always.

Eric L. Padgett