DAY 5: GIVING THANKS IN WORSHIP
Read Hebrews 12:25-29.
Today’s passage expresses an attitude of thanks alongside an attitude of reverent worship before an all-consuming fire in God. Looking at this passage, why are we told to give thanks (v. 28)?
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How does knowing this future truth help us have an attitude of thankfulness now?
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Our future is on solid ground, and it cannot be shaken. The kingdom even now present in spiritual form cannot be shaken. When I think about times when I am not thankful (i.e. grumbling and complaining), it is usually centered on a temporary matter, a matter that has shaken me up. I get so caught up in the situation that I forget it probably won’t matter in eternity. Temporary inconvenience needs to always be viewed from the eternal. We will enter an unshakable kingdom, and what shakes us today will be overrun by the unshakable.
How can the promise of an unshakable future give us an attitude of thankfulness? The phrase translated “let us be thankful” (NIV) is literally “let us have grace” in the Greek. Interestingly, the phrase “giving grace” before a meal carries this same attitude of thanksgiving. In matters of difficulty, it is always good to “give grace” not only for meals, but also in hardship. If we were to stop and “give grace” throughout the day, keeping in mind the secure nature of our future, I wonder how often it might repair a grumbling spirit?
To consider: The NAS translation of verse 28 says, “let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.” Being thankful is seen here as the attitude by which we offer to God acceptable worship. A life of worship is a life of thankfulness. Scripture is bursting with that message. It is not surprising so many of these devotions come back to thankfulness. Be thankful today. Be thankful on all occasions and when you are, your life will be one of acceptable worship to God.
