“Supernatural Gratitude"

    Gratitude does not come naturally to the human heart.

   "Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the Lord" (Proverbs 18:22).

   "And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made He a woman and brought her unto the man.  And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh.  She shall be called woman, because she was taken out of  man" (Genesis 2:22-23)

    Note the lack of recorded thanksgiving in Adam after Eve's creation and presentation to him by a generous and gracious God.  Rather than expressing gratitude to the Creator of Eve for so wondrous a gift, as we would reasonably expect, Adam rather views the woman in terms of himself - "bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh".  Consider also that this took place before sin entered the human experience.  Adam had not yet transgressed the commandment of God and become a servant of sin rather than righteousness.  Thus, even before the fall, we do not see in humanity the disposition to thanksgiving that should grace those whose very existence and every provision proceeds from Another.  "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights" (James 1:17).

    Gratitude in the human heart originates in the Divine heart that gives, and then works within the recipient to reveal the Giver and His generosity.  The Holy Spirit motivates and empowers  thankfulness to the Father, based upon the sacrifice of the Son that makes possible God's bestowal of "every good gift and every perfect gift."  Indeed, the old prayer, offered less frequently today than in times gone by, reflects much wisdom regarding both God and man - "Lord, make us truly thankful."  

   Believers do well to pray for each other and for ourselves that the Spirit of God will lead us in sincere gratitude and consistently expressed thanksgiving.  The appreciation that does not come naturally must come supernaturally.  It will as we trust and submit ourselves to the Lord Jesus Christ, and as His Spirit reveals in us the grateful heart of the Son to His Father: "God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying Abba Father" (Galatians 4:6).

"Be filled with the Spirit… giving thanks for all things unto the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."

(Ephesians 5:18; 20).

Weekly Memory Verse

    That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

(John 3:6)