"Be Thankful"

  Maybe we miss it. I know I do at times. It's all over the teachings of the new covenant. "Be thankful!" Simple words but their impact on our hearts seems to escape us at times. Oh, we are thankful when we are reminded to be thankful but are we really thankful in all things?

  In the midst of anxiety, we are to let our requests be made known to God with thankfulness (Phil. 4:6). Paul reminded the brethren at Colossae to be thankful (Col. 3:15) and sing with thankfulness (Col. 3:16). The brethren at Ephesus were instructed to always be giving thanks in all things (Eph. 5:20). The words that come from our lips are to be words that give thanks (Eph. 5:4). The Thessalonians were reminded to give thanks in everything (I Thes. 5:18). The Hebrew writer said our lips are to give thanks to the name of God (Heb. 13:15). Paul instructed the preacher Timothy in the assembly to pray with thanksgiving (I Tim. 2:1). It is all over the new covenant teachings!

  We just don't know how good we really have it! It was just a four years ago everyone was running around griping and complaining about the price of gas. You never heard thankfulness! And you don't hear it today! Four years ago we were paying about $1.75. Wouldn't that be great today? But because of the lack of thankfulness of heart, people continue their complaining. I realize we pay $3.38 right now. I'm thankful because we were paying almost $4 just a couple of months ago. As I filled up my truck and paid over $75, I was thankful because it could be $100. Be thankful!!!

  Thank God for His richness toward you instead of complaining how bad you have it! We have all these blessings and it is amazing to see how many when you travel to a third world country. It really hits you how wonderful things are where we live. Be thankful. When you face surgery, be thankful that we have the technology to help. Yes it hurts but be thankful. Thankfulness should penetrate deep into our hearts. I'm working more and more on that presently. And above all, we possess something that the world does not possess: EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING AND SALVATION! Shouldn't that alone bring to our hearts an attitude of thankfulness? Many do not realize how good they have it until it is lost. Let's not go there. "Be thankful!"