Thanksgiving to God is a blessing; ingratitude is divine punishment.
Text Acts 16:25-29; Romans 1:21-25
As we go to the nations to share the gospel, one of the messages we should tell people is that thanksgiving to God is a blessing; ingratitude to God is a punishment. There are too many complaints and grumblings in our world today, and one of the reasons is ingratitude to God.
Understanding Thanksgiving to God
Everything God created is good if it is received with Thanksgiving to God (1 Timothy 4:4-5). The two lepers who received the healing with thanksgiving were made well, compared to those who did not (Luke 17:11-19). Thus, whatever you thank God for in life becomes perfect.
Thanking and praising God brings divine blessings; in challenging moments, praise God and all shall be well (e.g., 2 Chron 20:21-23; Acts 16:25-34).
Whatever we have or receive in life is a gift from God; we came to this world with nothing and we shall exit with nothing (Job 1:20-21; Luke 12:13-21). Sickness and death are reminders that everything is God’s gift.
Refusing to thank God is a sin with divine consequences (See Acts 12:21-24; Romans 1:21-25). This is one of the messages we should share with people to encourage them to repent as we go to the nations to spread the gospel.
How should we thank God?
Prayer of thanksgiving (1 Tim 4:4-5)
Song, hymns, praises (Psalm 150)
Our substance (Prov. 3:9-10)
Our lives (Romans 12:1-12): how you live is a reflex response to gratitude or ingratitude to God.