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Gratitude, June 15
Roads to Happiness That Are Never Closed
I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with
me.
Psalm 13:6
Every earthly wish may be gratified, and yet men pass on as did the
ungrateful lepers who had been cleansed and healed of their obnoxious
disease. These lepers had been restored to health by Christ, and the parts
that had been destroyed by the disease were re-created; but only one, on
finding himself made whole, returned to give God glory....
The lesson which is recorded concerning the ten lepers should
awaken in every heart a most earnest desire to change the existing order
of ingratitude into one of praise and thanksgiving. Let the professed
people of God stop murmuring and complaining. Let us remember who
is the first great Giver of all our blessings. We are fed and clothed and
sustained in life, and should we not educate ourselves and our children
to respond with gratitude to our heavenly Father?
Have we not reason to talk of God’s goodness and to tell of His
power? When friends are kind to us we esteem it a privilege to thank
them for their kindness. How much more should we count it a joy to
return thanks to the Friend who has given us every good and perfect
gift. Then let us, in every church, cultivate thanksgiving to God. Let
us educate our lips to praise God in the family circle.... Let our gifts
and offerings declare our gratitude for the favors we daily receive. In
everything we should show forth the joy of the Lord and make known
the message of God’s saving grace.
The hearts of those who reveal the attributes of Christ glow with
divine love. They are imbued with the spirit of gratitude.... Lift up Jesus.
Lift Him up, the man of Calvary, with the voice of song and prayer. Seek
earnestly to spread the gospel. Tell the precious story of God’s love for
man. In this work you will find a satisfaction that will last through the
eternal ages.
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