How Can We Thank God Enough? - December 25

Read 1 Thessalonians 3:9-10 

For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith? 

Reflect 

Have you ever tried to express your gratitude to someone but found that saying “thank you” wasn’t nearly enough? 

When I am intentional and focus on listing out the things I am thankful for, I am always struck by how long of a list I have. I have truly been blessed by God. I have much to be thankful to Him for. But when I try to express my gratitude, it never seems like enough. The words of the psalmist come to mind, “What shall I repay to the LORD for all of His benefits to me?” (Psalm 116:12, NASB). In other words, what can I give back to God to express my thankfulness? How could I ever repay Him for everything He’s given me and everything He’s done for me?  

In today’s verses, Paul echoed the sentiment of the psalmist when he asked what they could return to God in gratitude for the church in Thessalonica. The news that Timothy brought of their faithfulness to the Lord had filled them all with so much joy. Yes, Paul had preached the message. Yes, the believers in Thessalonica had stood firm in the faith in the midst of persecution. Yes, Timothy had encouraged and exhorted them. But Paul knew to give credit where credit is due. God alone deserved the praise for the Thessalonians’ faith! 

But Paul also realized that every thank you gift we attempt to give God falls short. We cheerfully give our money but we know God doesn’t actually need our money. We dedicate our time and effort in acts of service but God doesn’t actually need our time or effort either. We use the talents that He’s given us to glorify Him but honestly, He doesn’t even need us to glorify Him in order for Him to have all the glory! 

The silver and gold are His (Haggai 2:8), the beasts of the forest and the cattle on a thousand hills are His (Psalm 50:10), the land is His (Leviticus 25:23), and the heavens are His (Psalm 115:16.) David summed it up when he wrote: “The earth is the LORD’s and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it” (Psalm 24:1). 

So what can we give the One who has it all? Well, while we know we’ll never be able to fully repay God, we still express our gratitude in thanksgiving and praise. We still give generously out of the abundance that He has given to us. We still sacrifice our time and effort to minister to others. We still use our gifts and talents to glorify Him. But He’ll never owe us anything in return. As God said, “Who has given to Me that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine” (Job 41:11).  

The steadfast faith of the Thessalonians had given Paul and his partners in ministry incredible joy. They had so much gratitude to God for His work in their lives that they didn’t know how to fully express their thanks. But in today’s verses, we see that while they couldn’t repay God, they stayed about His business. They stay focused on the ministry and mission that God had given them to preach His Gospel to the world. They cared about the Thessalonians’ spiritual growth and sanctification so much that they prayed fervently and earnestly for God to work again on the Thessalonians’ behalf by finding a way to get Paul and company back to Thessalonica. Paul knew that he had unfinished business there. So he prayed and asked God to make a way for him to continue to serve Him and teach His Word in Thessalonica. He knew that all we can ever give to God is everything we have. 

Respond  

Lord, You have blessed me abundantly! I confess that I often take your many gifts for granted. Please forgive me and show me how I can serve you with everything I am and everything You’ve given. “O LORD, I am your servant…I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD” (Psalm 116:16-17). Amen. 

Reveal  

Our hearts of gratitude, our thanksgiving, and our praise reveals our faith and the goodness of God to those around us. Aim to publicly praise Him this week.