The Attitude of Gratitude
I don’t know your TV watching habits, but this time of the year many people enjoy tuning in to the Hallmark Channel for its holiday movies. Because if there’s one thing the Hallmark Channel has perfected is a presentation of the perfect holidays. The movies seen on Hallmark portray the best of the season. The decorations, dinner and people are all delightful. And if there happens to be a problem, it will all work out by the end of the movie. Dinner will be perfect and of course, the guy gets the girl. However, for most of us, rarely, if ever do our holidays go so perfectly. In fact, for many people the holidays are a stress-filled time. For others, the holidays bring on a sense of depression either because things in their lives are not going well or the fact that a loved one won’t be celebrating with them. But we’re going to learn in this lesson whether things are good or challenging in your life this holiday season, you should keep an attitude of gratitude.
in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)
I. The Lord demands our gratitude.
As you study the verse a little closer, you’ll find that it’s written grammatically in the imperative mood which means you’re not being asked to be grateful. The Lord is commanding that you be grateful. It’s as much of a command as one of the Ten Commandments. Which means ingratitude is not just bad manners, it’s sinful.
II. The Lord delights in our gratitude.
How would you like to bring a smile to the face of God? Well, be a grateful person. The verse says it’s God’s will for you to be grateful, and anything that God wants us to do, He takes pleasure when we do it.
III. The Lord desires our gratitude.
Are you struggling with knowing God’s will for your life? Well, this verse says, “this is the will of God concerning you.” It’s God’s will for you to be grateful. Don’t rush past that because here’s a passage that plainly shares God’s will for your life.
IV. The Lord deserves our gratitude.
Is there anyone more deserving of your gratitude than the Lord? He loves you. He sent His Son Jesus to die for you and one day soon, Jesus will return for you so you can forever be with Him in Heaven. And that’s not even mentioning all the temporal blessings He gives you like a home; a car; food to eat, health, etc. He deserves your gratitude! Andre Couch captured what your attitude should be in his song, “To God Be the Glory.” The song says, “How can I say thanks for the things You have done for me? Things so undeserved, yet You gave to prove Your love for me. The voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude; all that I am and ever hope to be I owe it all to You. To God be the Glory! To God be the glory for the things He has done! With His blood He has saved me. With His power He has raised me. To God be the glory for the things He has done!”
Bee-Attitude
Blessed is the person who lives in appreciation for all the blessings of God they enjoy.
Author Profile
Terrence M. Curtis
Terrence M. Curtis is the pastor-teacher and visionary of the Calvary Baptist Church of Jonesboro and Barnesville, GA, starting these churches respectively in 1997 and 2022. Having been called to preach at the tender age of 14, he has dedicated over 42 years of his life to preaching the Gospel. He received a Certificate of Theology from The Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC), a degree in Biblical Studies from Faith Bible Institute, a Bachelor of Arts in Christian Education and a Master of Divinity degree from Restoration Theological Seminary. He and his beautiful wife Shelia, to whom he’s been married thirty-eight years, have three children and twelve grandchildren.
