November 1, 2023 | by: Raymundo Estenoz | 0 comments
Church family, I want to consider that thanksgiving is a practice in our spiritual life that comes from God, blesses us, and brings indescribable joy to our lives. Thanksgiving is the result of recognizing the constant work of God’s grace in our lives (Philippians 1:6), and the untold blessings we have received in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). Gratitude is the most natural and intentional response that creatures show before their creator, that servants show before their Lord, and that lost sinners show before their Savior.
Thanksgiving springs out spontaneously from the redeemed soul that enjoys the grace that comes from heaven. Paul, speaking of the complete work of salvation that God will do in his people despite the sufferings in this world, says: “For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God (2Corinthians 4:15).” Notice the way Paul exalts the love and grace of God in saving people. This work increases the thanksgivings that bring glory to his name. A life of gratitude springs directly from God’s work of grace in our lives, not self-imposed discipline.
Thanksgiving to God is not something human beings invented to earn divine favor. Gratitude is a commandment from heaven that God has designed to bring sinners closer to Him (Psalm 100:4). Gratitude is God’s will and desire for our lives (1Thessalonians 5:18). And who can doubt that His will is always good, pleasant and perfect?
Thanksgivings to God are the instinctive response of the redeemed soul that recognizes divine goodness. Those of us who have experienced the wonderful goodness of God are aware that gratitudes are unforced responses in our worship. Although we know gratitude is a commandment, we cannot doubt the spontaneous answer of this act in the lives of the redeemed. All of us who have enjoyed and seen the love and goodness of God in our lives will inevitably respond with thanksgiving to God.
An excellent example of this is found in Psalm 107. Here, the psalmist begins the psalm with thanksgiving to God for his goodness (Psalm 107:1), and in the repeated refrain of the psalm, he constantly says: “Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to the children of man!” Psalm. 107:8, 18, 21, 31. A necessary spiritual exercise is to frequently stop to reflect on the goodness and love of God. The spontaneous fruit of this reflection is the gratitude that will flow from our hearts and will be proclaimed by our lips.
In contrast to thanksgiving to God, we have complaints. Complaints spring from a rebellious heart that finds it impossible to submit to the will of God and not fully understand the glory of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Complaint has been present in the story of the Bible since man deliberately sinned in the Garden of Eden. The first complaint of the human being was against God because of the woman he had given him (Genesis 3:12). Since then, it has been a recurring attitude for human beings to complain about everything and not show gratitude to God. Since the fall of humanity, we find the trace of our sin of complaint.
Like a bad habit, grumblings accompanied the people of Israel on their way to the Promised Land. As soon as God performed the miracle of delivering them with decisive actions through the plagues and the crossing of the Red Sea, they began to complain. They complained about water (Exodus 15:22-27, 17:1-7), they complained about food (Exodus 15:22-27, Numbers 21:4-9), before God (Numbers 11:1-3), by Moses (Numbers 12:1-16), and from God (Numbers 14:27). It was easier for this nation that experienced God’s mighty work to complain than to thank God constantly. No wonder God’s righteous judgment fell on this unbelieving and uncircumcised nation (Numbers. 14:28-31). Sadly, many in the churches say they have known God, but their lives are more grumblings than thanksgiving, like that of the people of ancient Israel.
Complaining also accompanied the first Christians. As the Jerusalem church grew, the inevitable problems arose within the congregation, and grumblings began. In this case, the complaints were against church leaders who were neglecting Greek-speaking widows (Acts 6:1). Thank God that this complaint gave rise to a solution for all churches in all times: The diaconate (Acts 6: 3-4). The Philippian church also had problems with this ungodly behavior, and Paul had to encourage them: “Do all things without grumbling or disputing” (Philippians 2:14). Peter also had to exhort the brothers to show hospitality without complaint (1Peter 4:9).
The complaint also accompanies us. With humility, we must recognize that in our immaturity and inability to submit to the will of God, we constantly complain about so many things all day long. It is more common for the list of your daily complaints to be longer than the list of your gratitudes. And what about the space we dedicate to our church in that list of complaints? If we pray and thank God for blessing our family in Christ instead of grumbling about it, our church would surely be more mature and glorify God more.
Have you ever considered gratitude and complaint in the life of the Son of God? The example Jesus left us in his life of gratitude should lead us to wonder if we are imitating him. Jesus shows this godly aptitude by giving thanks for food (Matthew 15:36), by God hearing his prayers (John 11:41), by giving thanks for God’s sovereign grace in saving (Matthew 11:25- 27), and by giving thanks for the celebration of his death on the cross (Matthew 26:27). How many reasons did Jesus have to complain? The answer is all the reasons that produced this fallen world. And did he complain? Not even in the moment of most significant distress (Isaiah 53:7). Instead, he took up his mission with joy to bring salvation to humankind (Hebrews 12:2).
Beloved family, we have two paths to constantly choose
through the difficulties we encounter in this fallen world.
Thanksgiving or complaints.
What will you choose?
The gratitude that springs from a heart that has understood divine sovereignty,
love, and infinite goodness through faith in the gospel of Christ,
or
the complaint that rises from our rebellion and incomprehension
of the plans and character of God revealed in Christ.
With the help of God’s grace, let thanksgiving overcome a complaining lifestyle.
Please make thanksgiving a lifestyle and not just an annual family gathering.
Let us always overcome complaints with thanksgiving, remembering what the word of God tells us: “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe…” Hebrews 12:28.
May the grace of our God be upon your life!
Pastor Raymundo Estenoz, Ph.D. is the Pastor/Teacher of the Grace Bible Church Hispanic Church
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