EPHESIANS 5:20
Since the beginning of this year, I have a reminder on my iPad, that says; “There’s always something to be GRATEFUL for today, show gratitude”. While I know it is true, in all honesty and sincerity, I don’t always feel like showing gratitude. My natural man tells me, there’s nothing to be grateful for because you haven’t seen it with your naked eyes; but my spiritual eyes says keep being GRATEFUL even if your naked eyes can’t see it.
“Be grateful in all circumstances”.( 1 Thessalonians 5:18)
This doesn’t mean one has to be going round giving fake smiles plastered on your face. It doesn’t mean you can’t be sad, cry, struggle or wish things were different. It simply means, despite any circumstances, I STILL AGREE WITH GOD, He is faithful and worthy of praise. Nobody likes an ingrate; an ungrateful person; not even Jesus.
“Jesus asked, were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?” ( Luke 17:17-18)
God sees every believer as a grateful person until you prove otherwise. Jesus’ reaction to the Samaritan leper who returned to show gratitude shows he hates ingratitude. When a believer expresses gratitude, it helps you appreciate God’s blessings in the present. As children of God, we are swimming in God’s blessings, gratitude helps us to be more aware of them.
“As it is written, what eye has not seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived; the things God has prepared for those who love Him”. ( 1Corinthians 2:9 NIV).
Gratitude helps us avoid murmuring, complaining, envy and jealousy; and rather makes us shine as light in the world.
“Do all things without grumbling and disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world”. (Philippians 2:14-15)
Greedy and selfish people can’t express gratitude. You have to be content with what you have before you become content with what others have. Gratitude stimulates the believer to be generous; to want to bless others.
May the Lord help us all to show gratitude not just to God, but also to the people around us. The people who pushed us up on our ladder of success. Those who held our hands to cross the rivers , and those who stood with us when the storms of life came. Those who stood with us when we were going through shame, betrayal, slander and disappointment.
Show gratitude, express it, don’t just think about it.
To be cont..
Stay blessed always and remember to love someone and mean it.
#sociallysignificant #Lukebarson #Libertybreakfast
Rev. Prophet Luke Luki Barson is the Senior Pastor at Liberty House Christian Centre at Tema Community 25.
He has studied at the University of Ghana, the Methodist University College and the Christian Service University College.
He is currently a PhD student at the University of South Africa.
Source: BestNewsGH.com
