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TWO WAYS TO LIVE
Paul lays out two paths that diverge like a fork in the road: gratitude or ingratitude. We will either be people who give thanks or grumble.
In Romans 12, Paul begins this new section (Rom. 12-16) by picking up his own language from Romans 1:18–32 to contrast followers of God to those who reject God. Thanksgiving is central to this comparison. Gratitude leads to glorifying God and growing in godliness, whereas ingratitude yields ignorance of God and idolatry against God.
The key verse is Romans 1:21. “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Throughout the Bible, ignoring God through ingratitude is linked to idolatry, which takes place when people walk away from God and follow false gods (see Deut. 8:19).
In contrast to the ungrateful in Romans 1, chapter 12 helps us see how God’s followers choose gratitude as an avenue of worship and a path to obedience. Paul’s language of “living sacrifice” (12:1) is an act and response of gratitude. It draws on the thanksgiving offering, or sacrifice, from Israel’s religious life and worship (Lev. 7:11-16). The Old Testament thanksgiving offering transitions into a living sacrifice in the New Testament. We no longer offer animals, grains, spices, oils, or flours. We offer ourselves. Our living sacrifice is a grateful offering.
Rather than offering ourselves to the world, we present ourselves to God. Rather than having a corrupted mind that suppresses the truth of God by failing to give thanks, we renew our mind with truth by acknowledging God through thanksgiving. Ingratitude comes from idolatry and creates more idolatry, whereas worship arises from gratitude and produces more gratitude. Which cycle do you want to get stuck in?
In Romans 1, we see the person who rejects God. Paul lists ingratitude as a central cause and symptom of a life of sin and frustration. But in Romans 12, for the person submitted to God, gratitude governs their whole life. There are two ways to live, grateful or ungrateful. Choose gratitude today by saying no to grumbling and yes giving thanks.
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About this Plan
We’re all tempted to grumble about frustrations and disappointments, but the Bible reminds us of the many reasons to be grateful. Giving thanks helps us recognize God’s gifts and rejoice in the Giver. Spend the next week immersing yourself in Bible verses encouraging us why and how we can give thanks. But don’t settle for only learning about thanksgiving, practice it as each devotional prompts ways to give thanks.
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