"...And be thankful (appreciative) giving praise to God always". Col 3:15 In our society it is proper to say Thank you when someone has given you something. Whether it be a gift, a kind remark or compliment, permission to go ahead of them in a line at the grocery store, or whatever else. The thank you is the response that comes as a result of the other. It is an exchange. It is also a societal rule, if you will. We teach our children to say "thank you" when something is given to them. It is the polite thing to say. However, often times we say the words without having the heart motivation to back it up. It is as if the "thank you" has become empty, almost meaningless; some vain platitude that we have been conditioned to say when our unconscious brain says so. I wonder how often I have said these two words without really thinking about it, or even being appreciative. I wonder, if I have given that kind of lip service even to a Holy God...
I have caught myself several times this past week saying those two little words. I have said them quite often, to my surprise. I have to say that there have been a few times that I didn't really mean it; it was simply the polite thing to say. I noticed, however,that the contrast between the times I did mean it and when it was simply polite, had everything to do with the motivations of my heart.
I think that the essence of what the Apostle Paul was saying in the verse above, is this: Let the motivation of your heart be continuously in a position of humility so that you may be able to give thanks and show your appreciation toward the Lord all the time; both consciously and unconsciously or rather actively and inactively; voluntarily, because God has already given us THE GIFT--it is Christ. He also continuously gives us gifts, seen and unseen, which we are to be appreciative of. The Bible says "His mercies are new every morning". I believe that if the position of my heart is one of thankfulness toward God I get far more glimpses of God in others and in the world around me; thereby making my praise more conscious and voluntary than latent.
I woke up this morning and while still groggy, opened the door to take the dogs out, and the first thing that hit me was the smell of jasmine blowing in the breeze and I was instantly awake and thanking God! It was a wonderful way for God to awaken my soul today. One that, while I am sure others enjoyed it, it was also personal to me, because I noticed it and was thankful to the Creator for it. I know that this example is simplistic, but let us not forget that God uses the simple to confound the wise. We are to come to Him as children; those who appreciate because they see with fresh eyes, as if for the first time, the wonders of God.
I want to challenge you, as I continue to challenge myself, to be more conscious of our "Thank you's", both toward God and others. Check yourself, to see if your heart's motivation is thankfulness, and ask God to create in you a thankful heart, for His Glory. May our praise be a sweet sound to your ears O Lord and a sweet smell to your nostrils! Amen
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