Verse of the day: Ruth 2:10, So she fell on her face, bowed down to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?”
It amazes me how we, as human beings, often respond with near reverence toward those who provide for us in our times of need. Ruth’s response to Boaz was a proper response in that she was grateful for the kindness he showed toward her, even though she was not an Israelite. How often do we bow down and give thanks to God for all He has done in our lives? Just the mere fact that we have eternal life in Him should be enough to be thankful, at all times, even if He chose to do nothing else for us. Sadly, much of what we should be grateful for is clouded by our ingratitude for not having the things we think we deserve. We lose sight of how thankful we should be when trials and tribulations come our way or when we do not get what we want. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 clearly states God’s will for us in being thankful, “Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” In “everything” or in all circumstances we are to give thanks. Giving thanks to God when things are not going our way is part of our worship to Him. Hebrews 13:15 says, “Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” In Christ Jesus we are to offer up our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to God. When is our praise and thanks a sacrifice? It is not only when things are going well, for even those who do not know the Lord can give thanks when circumstances are favorable. However, it takes greater effort, true sacrifice, to give God praise and thanks when it seems like everything is going wrong and everyone is against us. True worship consisting of praise and thanksgiving takes place not just when life is good, but also when life seems to be falling apart. What I have often observed, especially during times of prayer for thanksgiving, is that we can go before God with a laundry list of wants and requests. Yet, when it comes to giving thanks, the list is short and we run out of things to thank Him for. What I also find to be a sad commentary is that when asked to mention one thing we are thankful for, the majority of times the first thing we think about to give thanks for is some physical or material thing we have received. I would challenge each of us who are born again believers to begin our times of giving thanks by first thanking Him for the eternal life He has given us so undeservedly. We are rich in spiritual things in Christ; things that cannot be taken from us. For this, we should bow down and worship Him, giving Him praise and thanks. In 2 Corinthians 6, the Apostle Paul relates that as ministers of God (which we all are in Christ) we are minister under all, and in all, circumstances. Verses 10 reads, “As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” In sorrow, we rejoice and give thanks, and even in poverty (by the world’s standards), we are rich. In all circumstances we have a reason to give thanks. Our joy can only be taken if we choose to give it away. Therefore, regardless of what we are experiencing, we have no excuse to hold back praise and thanks from the One Person in our lives that deserves all the praise, honor, glory, and thanks…our God, our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Have we thanked Him today?
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
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