Thankfulness

[Heidi]

In Luke 7:41, Jesus describes the parable of a man who was forgiven for much more debt than another and explains why the one who was forgiven the greater debt loved the one who forgave his debt more than the one who didn't have much debt did.

So if someone forgives your debt of a million dollars, how would you feel? Would you be grateful? Or would it take work and effort to thank your debtor? Would you have to muster up thankfulness? If so, then you re not grateful.

But if you are so gratefull that you can hardly restrain yourself from thanking the man, that's how a born again Christian feels when he knows what Jesus did for him. There is zero effort involved in thanking him except in restraining our joy. In fact, a true born again Christian who knows what Jesus did for him, can't think of anything more joyous and pleasing than giving up his life for the one who gave up his life for him.

So sorry folks, those of you who claim it takes work to do God's will don't have the love of God in your hearts. So good reading would be; "Luke 7:41, Mark 12:30-33 Matthew 6:21, Matthew 12:34, Romans 13:8-10, and many other verses talking about love from one's heart.

 

[unred typo]

That is so true, Heidi.


People who really appreciate what Jesus has done for them don’t try to get out of doing works of love and faith for him by twisting scripture. They thankfully obey with gladness and joy and do not even consider they are working out their salvation when they follow Christ, even though they are giving up what they want to do and obtain in this life, in order to love and help others as Jesus has commanded his followers to do.

 

[Heidi]

That is so true, Heidi.


People who really appreciate what Jesus has done for them don’t try to get out of doing works of love and faith for him by twisting scripture. They thankfully obey with gladness and joy and do not even consider they are working out their salvation when they follow Christ, even though they are giving up what they want to do and obtain in this life, in order to love and help others as Jesus has commanded his followers to do.

But I'm not giving up what I want to do because what I want to do is thank Jesus. So I don't do it because I was commanded to, I do it because I love Jesus. Remember, love is the fulfillment of the law and the commandments. Jesus changes hearts into love. But those who obey the law without love, as Paul says, their work is meaningless. So if you still want to sin, but are giving it up out of effort, then you need to ask Jesus to change your heart into love so it won't be so much work for you.

 

[cyberjosh]

Thankfulness or thanksgiving is a very important topic in the Bible. Infact as I've studied I've noticed often that prayer and thansksgiving are listed side by side, leading me to believe that prayer is supposed to have thanksgiving as part of its very nature, as well as petitions and requests.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God" (Philippians 4:6).


Bless God at all times and thank him for what He has done, what He is doing, and He will do in your life.

God Bless, and may God be blessed,

~Josh