2 Timothy 3: | 2: “For men will be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3: Without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those who are good, 4: Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God, 5: Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” |
‘Ingratitude’ stifles spiritual growth, checks the progress of friendship and in the end severs the links between loved ones and also between God and man. And yet this need not be; for we all know that no matter how unworthy or poor a person may be, it is always possible to be ‘thankful’ for what we have received. We all know that saying ‘thank you’ doesn't cost the receiver anything; but it brings a lot of joy to the giver. A thankful heart is in fact the hallmark of the truly great person, just as ingratitude is of the small. Let us therefore study this matter of thankfulness to Yahweh, noting all the while that it is a reaction which brings great joy to His heart.
1 Chronicles 16: | 34: “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever. 35: And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise.” |
Psalm 105: | 1: “O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. 2: Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works.” |
Psalm 106: | 1: Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 2: Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise?” |
Psalm 107: | 1: “O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. 2: Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;” |
Psalm 119: | 62: “At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.”
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1 Thessalonians 2: | 13: For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”
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Ephesians 5: | 20: “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”
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1 Thessalonians 5: | 18: “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” |
Acts 27: | 35: “And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.” |
1 Corinthians 1: | 4: “I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ.”
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1 Thessalonians 1: | 2: “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers.”
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1 Timothy 2: | 1: “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.” |
Luke 22: | 17: “And he took the cup, and gave thanks...”
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Verse: | 19: “And he took bread, and gave thanks...” |
We are reminded repeatedly in Psalm 136:
1: “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2: “O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
3: “O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.”