Be Eternally Thankful

 In the midst of the storm, when the storm-battered vessel was plunging at its four anchors off the coast of Malta, Paul "gave thanks to God in presence of them all" (Acts 27:35). He could do that because he had faith in the word and promise God had given him.

Paul's reasons for gratitude to God cover the whole territory of human life and experience. He gives thanks for:

1) His daily bread (Acts 27:35)
2) Men who have faith in Christ (Romans 1:8)
3) Deliverance from anxiety (2 Corinthians 2:14)
4) Deliverance from temptation (Romans 7:25)
5) The memory of his friends (Philippians 1:3)
6) Kindness in the day of trouble (Acts 28:15)
7) The "unspeakable" gift (2 Corinthians 9:15)

Thankfulness can be a very volatile thing. Many times, our thankfulness focuses only on the physical things. Here's what I mean. We're thankful for our health; our families and our homes; our financial stability; and for the things we have. However, all of these things can change quickly. Health can deteriorate, families can break up, and bank accounts can disappear. Then what? How does this affect our thankfulness?

The point that I'm trying to make is that it's okay to be thankful for all the physical blessings we enjoy. There's certainly nothing wrong with that. But, we should learn to look beyond those unstable things to some things that never change. Things that remain constant throughout all the seasons of our lives. Let's call these things: unchanging reasons for thankfulness.

Beginning with Our Savior, there is his abiding presence; His assisting presence; His anchoring presence. No matter where life takes us we will never go there alone (Matthew 28:20; Isaiah 41:10).

Then there is our salvation. We can give God thanks that salvation is given freely (Isaiah 55:1; Revelation 22:17). We can be thankful for the pain of salvation. God paid an unimanageable price for us. Our salvation cost God the life of His Son (John 3:16). Even though he knew what we were, and what we would be like after He saved us; Jesus still died for our sins on the cross!

And what was the purpose of this? He died so that He might "sanctify the people." He saved us so that we might become different, and that He might be able to use us for His glory (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Finally, our world is constantly changing. If we put all of our hopes in this "physical" world, we'll be more disappointed than happy. Still, there is some good news! We can rejoice in the fact that this world is not the end of the road. Something much better awaits us.

We can be thankful that when our journey ends here we have a glorious place waiting for us. A place where we can rest from our labors, and delight in the awesome presence of the Lord. We don't know much about it now, but we do know that it will be trouble-free (Revelation 21:4). And, more importantly, we know that we will be with Jesus (John 14:1-3).

In closing, let's be thankful for all the things He gives us; and praise Him for our health, our families, our financial blessings, etc. Certainly, we shouldn't take them for granted, but we should learn to be more thankful for those things which we can never lose. Let's be ever thankful for those things that cannot change.

Then, when all physical blessings have faded away, and we find no reason for praise in them, let's thank the Lord that there are some things that will never change! It's in these things that we have an unchanging reason to be eternally thankful.

Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:18; Psalms 107:1; Ephesians 5:20; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2

Prayer: Lord, you have given me so many reasons to be thankful. But the thing that I am most thankful for is the day I gave myself to you. Amen

God bless you!

Riley