GRATITUDE AND THANKGIVING

Tim Thorburn, director of Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students and Perth Gospel Partnership wrote:

“Confidence in the genuineness of any valuable commodity is often difficult. In 1300 King Edward I of England decreed that gold and silver had to be tested and approved by master craftsmen before being sold. Later, London artisans were required to bring finished metal goods to Goldsmiths’ Hall to be checked, and if those items met the quality standards of the craft masters there, they would be marked with a special stamp of approval—called a Hallmark. But over the years the word came to refer to any mark guaranteeing purity or genuineness.

What is the hallmark of genuine Christianity? What is the outward sign that a person is truly Christian, or that a community of Christians is the real thing? What is the inevitable fruit of obeying the gospel? There are many potential hallmarks but I have been struck by the recurring note as the Bible describes those who know God in Christ: thanksgiving.”

The Hallmark of being a disciple of Christ is gratitude that spills over into thanksgiving.

“And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
(Paul, an apostle, to the Colossians 3:15-17)

“So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Jesus