Maintaining a grateful and thankful heart is proof that the Holy Spirit is working in us. Knowing that God has blessed us with our talents and natural abilities, our strengths, our health, our relationships and our finances keeps gratitude fresh.
Every good and perfect gift comes from the Father and as we thank Him for these things we are kept from self-centeredness and the idea that we have things because we are so darn special.
The Apostle Paul warns us of the attitudes that will surface as we come to the “last days” – it certainly sounds like it could come from any newspaper or police blotter across the nation.
“Remember this: There are some terrible times coming in the last days. 2 People will love only themselves and money. They will be proud and boast about themselves. They will abuse others with insults. They will not obey their parents. They will be ungrateful and against all that is pleasing to God. 3 They will have no love for others and will refuse to forgive anyone. They will talk about others to hurt them and will have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good.” II Timothy 3:1-3 ERV
Has gratitude expired? Has thankfulness become like a jug of milk that has sat in the refrigerator for too long?
There are expiration dates on warranties, coupons, credit cards, canned goods. However, there are some things that never expire. There is no expiration date on God’s mercy!
Whew!
I know that I don’t mess up as much as I once did but still there are screw ups, failures, and downright disobedience. It is so comforting to know that His mercy endures forever.
“The Lord is our God, and he has given us light! Start the celebration! March with palm branches all the way to the altar. 28 The Lord is my God! I will praise him and tell him how thankful I am. 29 Tell the Lord how thankful you are, because he is kind and always merciful.” Psalm 118:27-29 CEV
In this chapter we find the phrase “because he is kind and always merciful” five times or as it says in the King James version “his mercy endureth forever”.
No expiration dates. Mercy is the act of forgiving or restoring when we’ve done nothing to deserve it. God has every right to judge us harshly for the things we’ve done, and He doesn’t! Now that’s a lot to be thankful for.
I hope you will read the rest of this chapter in its’ entirety. It’s a wonderful chapter of praise but before I close this morning I will add these few verses from the beginning of the chapter.
“Let every true worshiper of the Lord shout, ‘God is always merciful!’ 5 When I was really hurting, I prayed to the Lord. He answered my prayer, and took my worries away. 6 The Lord is on my side, and I am not afraid of what others can do to me. 7 With the Lord on my side, I will defeat all of my hateful enemies. 8 It is better to trust the Lord for protection than to trust anyone else, 9 including strong leaders.” Psalms 118:4-9 CEV
God is always merciful. Don’t let your gratitude expired.