In Touch Daily Devotional
by Dr. Charles Stanley
November 24-25, 2007 – Expressions of Thanksgiving – Ephesians 5:15-20
Upon receiving a present, we ordinarily thank the giver. This should be true of divine gifts as well.
God tells us that all good gifts are from Him (James 1:17). What’s more, He instructs us to “always [give] thanks for all things” (Ephesians 5:20). But how can we adequately express our gratitude to the Lord?
Give thanks with sound. We can speak of our gratitude to the Lord in private or in public. Thanksgiving can also be conveyed through music?Jonah 2:9 says, “But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you” (niv). God delights in heartfelt gratitude expressed musically, whether through informal singing or in choirs and orchestras.
Give thanks by living holy lives. As a response to God’s goodness and faithfulness, we should honor Him with our obedience. Paul expressed it this way: “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” (Romans 12:1).
Give thanks through generosity. If we’re truly grateful for what we receive, we’ll gladly share our time, money, gifts, and resources. It is easy to become possessive of what we deem ours, forgetting that it is actually from God; then, with an attitude of selfishness, we might hold His blessings tightly. What we should do, however, is give back to the Lord joyfully.
How do you express your gratitude to God? Take time today to identify some of His countless blessings in your life, and offer Him heartfelt thanks.
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