Thankfulness

Thankfulness

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. (Colossians 3:15)

Last night we, like many others who were able to, stood outside our homes to applaud those who work in the National Health Service. It was a simple expression of thankfulness for the thousands of workers who care for the increasing number of UK citizens infected by the coronavirus. They do this work while coping with their fears and vulnerability. They deserve our thanks.

We do have so much to be thankful for in our lives. There are so many material things we enjoy, not enjoyed in many parts of the world. We have food when others go hungry, peace when others live in war zones, freedoms when others face persecution, order when others have chaos. We have the joys of Christian marriage, family life, friendships, worship, fellowship and service. Above all, we have the joy of salvation; faith, hope and love in our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; the indwelling power of the Spirit of God, and fellowship with the Father.

Paul writes about thankfulness as something which should characterise Christians. I am always humbled by the Saviour when He feeds thousands of people (John 6). The Lord’s eternal glory is described in the opening verses of John 1: “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (verse 3). Jesus did not need the help of anyone to feed the vast crowd before Him. But, testing Philip’s faith, Jesus asks him how they were going to feed the people. Jesus presents it as a problem. It is then that Andrew brings the boy with the five barley loaves and two fish. Jesus involves the disciples in getting the people sat down and ready for a meal. Then He took the loaves and gave thanks. The creator and the sustainer of the universe gave thanks to His Father in heaven for a small meal from a young boy. We should never be marked by ingratitude or unthankfulness. The Lord teaches us to be thankful. In John 12 the Lord appreciated the sacrifice Mary made when she anointed His feet with a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, and He defended her from those who criticised her action.

The Lord Jesus also gave thanks in Luke 22 when He instituted what we call the Lord’s Supper. The bread and the wine represented the Lord giving His life and shedding His precious blood. Taking them, the Lord gave thanks. Paul recalls the Lord’s giving of thanks in 1 Corinthians 11:24.

The Lord’s thankfulness is profound and we learn from Him how to live with gratitude and appreciation in our hearts towards God, towards each other and towards all who show us kindness. Part of our witness to this world is that we are a thankful people.