Jesus was always thankful...even in the face of real need.
On 3 separate occasions Jesus publicly thanked God in the face of great need.
Like Jesus, our gratitude can pave the way for the work of God in our lives.
Scene 1 ~ Jesus thanked God in spite of people problems
In Matthew 11 Jesus had people problems on two fronts (1) John the Baptist, His lifelong friend, was questioning whether Jesus was even the Messiah (2) Jesus acknowledged that 3 major cities were unreceptive to His ministry.
I don't know about you. But when my friends lose confidence in me, and my ministry isn't being received, I start feeling down. Jesus publicly thanked God...in the midst of people problems.
Scene 2 ~ Jesus thanked God in spite of personal challenges
Everybody knows the shortest verse in the Bible, "Jesus wept" in John 11:35. What we don't realize is that Jesus was personally experiencing the pain of the death of His close friend Lazarus.
Jesus publicly thanked God...then He raised Lazarus from the dead. Before Jesus raised the dead, he raised a prayer of thanks to God. How many dead areas of our lives might be raised to new life if only we raised a prayer of thanks to God first?
Scene 3 ~ Jesus thanked God in spite of painful circumstances
The night before Jesus was crucified He initiated the Lord's Supper. Jesus used a cup of wine and piece of bread as object lessons to show how he was going to suffer the painful consequences of our sin the very next day.
Jesus publicly thanked God...then broke the bread and passed the cup. Jesus endured the physical, emotional, and spiritual suffering of the cross, through a grateful attitude toward God.
This Thanksgiving, like Jesus, I've got people problems, personal challenges, and painful circumstances. And like Jesus, I'm going to let my gratitude pave the way for the work of God in my life.
~ Gratitude enables God to do what only He can do ~
