Grateful: Giving Thanks to God in All ThingsSample

Gratitude Acknowledges God’s Work

By Cynthia Hopkins

Gratitude is nice. We all know that. So, if gratitude is a universally accepted value, then why do we need encouragement to embrace and practice that value? The fact is, as much as we value gratitude, we struggle to practice it in daily life.

That’s why Paul prayed for the believers in Colossae to keep on being grateful, to grow in gratitude (Col. 1:9-14). His prayer is meant to inform our understanding and practice of true gratitude today, too. He wants us to be filled with gratitude every moment of every day, no matter what is going on in our lives. God has rescued us from darkness and brought us into Christ’s eternal kingdom (v. 13). We have redemption. Our sins are forgiven (v. 14). What an amazing gift; what an amazing God!

This knowledge of God and experience of relationship with Him changes things. Yes, He is Creator, and it is right to be grateful for the people He has put in our lives. It is good to be thankful for jobs and houses and every single good thing we have because every single good thing we have is every bit the provision of God. Yet He calls us to a deeper understanding. True gratitude does not simply acknowledge what earthly blessings we have; it acknowledges God’s ultimate, eternal work, which remains true in every circumstance. Even in those things we want but do not have, God is our Redeemer. Redemption is transformational; it compels a life of gratitude that seeks to “walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him: bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God” (v. 10).

So, what does that look like? How do we show that we are genuinely grateful for the salvation we have been given in Jesus Christ?

Acknowledge God’s work of salvation in Jesus Christ—to God Himself. This is an acknowledgment of truth and grace, where the understanding of personal sin meets the gift of Christ’s blood sacrifice on the cross and chooses to follow Him in faith.

Have you acknowledged God’s work of salvation in Jesus Christ in this way? If not, you can take that step right now! Confess that you are dead in sin and in need of His Son, Jesus, to give you life. Recognize that it is by His grace through faith alone in Jesus—not any good works you do—that you can be saved.

Acknowledge that Jesus is Lord and that He died on the cross and rose from the dead to redeem your life. Gratefully profess your decision to turn from your sin and follow Him.

Read Colossians 1:9-12, and choose to live with a heart of gratitude today.

For more of this study by Lifeway Women, visit lifeway.com/grateful.