Let Us Show Gratitude

Thankful

Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe” (Hebrews 12:28).

In this passage that talks about the Lord’s kingdom and the need to serve God with “reverence and godly fear” (KJV), there is one key point that connects these ideas together – the importance of gratitude.

The Hebrew writer explained that we are to “show gratitude” because “we receive a kingdom.” This kingdom – the Lord’s kingdom of which we can be a part – is superior in every way to the kingdoms of men. Jesus – the king over this kingdom (cf. John 18:36) – is seated “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:21). While all earthly kingdoms will eventually come to an end, His kingdom will “endure forever” (Daniel 2:44).

This kingdom – which is seen in the church (cf. Matthew 16:18-19) – is open to people of all nations (cf. Isaiah 2:2-3; Acts 10:34-35). God adds to this number “those who [are] being saved” (Acts 2:47). Those who have obeyed the gospel (Acts 2:37-38, 41) have been added to this kingdom. Those who have yet to obey the gospel still have the promise of being added if they will do what those on the day of Pentecost were told to do (Acts 2:39; cf. Mark 16:15-16).

Because we are able to be part of the Lord’s kingdom, we are to “show gratitude” (Hebrews 12:28). Not only are we to be thankful for the kingdom itself, we should also be thankful for escaping our previous state. We have been “rescued…from the domain of darkness, and transferred…to the kingdom of His beloved Son” (Colossians 1:13). If we are “separate from Christ,” we have “no hope” (Ephesians 2:12); but in Him, we have hope (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:20-22; Hebrews 6:19-20). We do not deserve our place in the Lord’s kingdom, but we can be in this privileged place by God’s grace (Ephesians 2:8-9, 13-16).

This thankfulness for being able to be part of the Lord’s spiritual and eternal kingdom is vital. The Hebrew writer said, “By [gratitude] we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe” (Hebrews 12:28). We often focus on the need to fear the Lord (show reverence and awe) because of how this is tied to our purpose – to “fear God and keep His commandments” (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Yet this attitude of thankfulness is equally important. We serve God acceptably with gratitude and reverence/fear. We cannot take one or the other.

Many people who live under oppressive and tyrannical civil rulers submit to them out of fear, but they are not thankful to them because they have no reason to be. We are to fear God because He is “a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:29), but He is not a wicked dictator. Instead, He has abundantly blessed us. “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow” (James 1:17).

Therefore, let us be sure that we “show gratitude” to God for the blessing of being part of His kingdom. Then with this attitude of thanksgiving, let us demonstrate our gratitude by faithfully obeying the Lord in all things.


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