The Gospel of Guided Grace:

Grace and Thankfulness

Luke 17:11-19 (NLT)

    As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria. As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!"  He looked at them and said, "Go show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, their leprosy disappeared.   One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, "Praise God, I'm healed!"  He fell face down on the ground at Jesus' feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan.   Jesus asked, "Didn't I heal ten men? Where are the other nine? Does only this foreigner return to give glory to God?"  And Jesus said to the man, "Stand up and go. Your faith has made you well."

Romans 1:21 (NLT)

    Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. The result was that their minds became dark and confused.

Giving thanks is the fuel that keeps us moving in God’s grace

1. Thankfulness measures how far we have entered into grace as well as measures how much grace we have received 

Consequently, thankfulness keeps us from straying away from grace

Genuine thankfulness is a choice, habit and attitude

Philip. 2:14-15 (NIV)

    Do everything without complaining or arguing, [15] so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe

Psalm 77:3 (KJV)
     “I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed.”

The soul that gives thanks can find comfort in everything; the soul that complains can find comfort in nothing.

Choosing to be thankful protects against bitterness and preserves the tenderness of our hearts

2. Thankfulness comes when we realize that everything good that we have is a gift and that we are not entitled to anything

Choosing to give thanks preserves our humility

3. Decide to be thankful regardless of the circumstances 

Lament. 3:22-24 (NIV)

    Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."

1 Thes. 5:18 (NLT)

    No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Live by thankfulness and not by rewards