Gratitude Flows from the Gospel – by Desmond Ford

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Aug 30, 2015 1971

In that Book which, best of all books, tells us how to live, we read,

Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise. . . do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit. . . . Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Eph 5:15-20, NIV)

I read it and feel ashamed. A fifty-cent piece held close enough to the eye can block out the sun. I confess that too often I have clutched some trifling worry so close as to be blind to the manifold blessing of my existence. We find it much harder to sit on a tack than on a mountain, yet the carnal heart concentrates much more on tacks than mountains, as though it were gaining something by such folly. Lord, forgive us….

The same Paul who advised us to cultivate gratitude also exemplified that virtue. “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift” (2 Cor 9:15 KJV) was his spontaneous utterance as he thought of Christ. Dear friend, who can estimate the joy of sins forgiven, the value of the imputed righteousness of God bestowed upon the ungodly who believe, the constant presence of God, the gift of the indwelling Spirit, the privilege of service, the cordials of Scripture and prayer, and a thousand other causes for gratitude?

Paul wrote of them all, and we would benefit richly from daily reading his words with alleluias resonating through our minds. Think on it continually: our Christ has linked himself to us by his humanity, yet he is linked to God by his divinity. He is that ladder down which proceed all the continuous gifts of heaven.

The gifts are for those who like the penitent thief and Barabbas cannot help themselves, and have nothing to offer God – except the gratitude he himself bestows as the gospel is received. God be praised!

– Des Ford. Rom 8:27–32. Adapted from “Think and Thank.”