Day 3: Jesus and Gratitude
God Himself, in the person of his Son, Jesus, entered into our thankless world and lived in flawless appreciation of his Father. He then died on our behalf for our chronic ingratitude. Jesus lived a life of continual thanksgiving to God the Father. In Matthew 11:25 Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.” John 11:41 says “…they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, ‘Father, I thank you that you have heard me…’” (Jesus then raises Lazarus from the dead).
In Matthew 15:36, Jesus “took the seven loaves and the fish, and having given thanks he broke them and gave them to his disciples…” (see also John 6:11 and John 6:23 which refers to the location as “the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks”). Lastly look at Luke 22:17–20: “And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, ‘Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.’ And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, ‘This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.’”
Jesus lived a perfect life of thanksgiving to God the Father. He lived the life that we couldn’t live. He then died to pay for our sin of thankless living in which we fail to recognize God. And the great news of the Gospel is that not only does God then forgive us for our ingratitude but he gives us Jesus’ spotless record. 2 Corinthians 5:21 says, “he made him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf that we might become of the righteousness of God in him.” Jesus became sin in order that by faith, we might become righteous!
Take time to thank God for Jesus, His perfect life, His death in your place, and the perfect record that is now yours by faith.
(Devotional credit: Epic Community Church in Aberdeen, Maryland)
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