Gratitude: Honoring God and His Instruments

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"i say thank you a lot to a lot of people or something like i really appreciate that or you have encouraged me so much thank you candace is asking the question like this since god is the ultimate giver in the end through all things in all things why would it ever be appropriate to thank anyone but god so paul says from him through him to him are all things to him be glory forever and ever romans 11 36" [00:02:44]

"so if i'm served well at a restaurant god created the server god gave the breath god inclined the heart to courtesy god gave everything that makes my meal pleasant so god be thanked not the waiter or the waitress or the server and of course that's true god did give everything and god should be thanked in all of our thankfulness we should have god ultimately in mind as the giver and sustainer and the providential guide in every good that happens to us" [00:03:32]

"i think we all would agree that human beings become instruments in the hands of god for doing many good things that god wants done so for example jesus says about paul when he commissioned him he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the gentiles and the kings and the children of israel that's acts 9 15 and then he says to paul i am sending you to open their eyes" [00:04:50]

"and of course this is the way god has worked ever since the beginning he gives commandments he gives promises he gives warnings he gives help but there is no doubt that human beings are god's primary created instrument for accomplishing in the world what he wants done so the question becomes how does god think about our instrumentality what status does the instrument itself us have in god's hands" [00:05:36]

"the bible is very clear that god is the rewarder of those who seek him several times jesus said that the father will reward us for acting certain ways matthew 6 great will be your reward in heaven for enduring persecution matthew 5 12 time after time we are told god rewards us for the good that we do ephesians 6 8 amazing statement whatever good anyone does this he will receive back from the lord wow" [00:06:58]

"and even more than reward paul says that we'll all receive our commendation and literally the word is praise from god that's just almost unfathomable c.s lewis calls it the weight of glory that you that we would ever hear well done well done how could how could god speak such a thing to a worm like me right so even though everything good that we do is enabled by god it is sustained by god it is made useful by god" [00:07:34]

"nevertheless god has graciously chosen to look upon obedient instruments in his hands as pleasing to him and fitting recipients of his rewards and commendations so my heart inclination is to say if god almighty in infinite perfection and having no need whatsoever can look with favor and reward and commendation and praise upon the imperfect work of his people might it not be fitting that i would look upon human instruments in his hand" [00:08:08]

"with a humble sense of expressed glad indebtedness and that would be about my definition of thankfulness expressed glad indebtedness to them for their instrumentality in mediating to me good from god god should always be in my mind at the ultimate giver and he gets thanks in everything for everything but the role of instruments in his hands is an amazing role and i am put in debt to that instrument as well as to god" [00:08:38]

"if something good happens to me because of another person's instrumentality in the hand of god i am glad and the mixture of gladness and a sense of indebtedness is what i call thankfulness it belongs ultimately to god continually and i think it is fitting that this gladness find expression toward the morally responsible human instruments in god's hands as well" [00:09:25]

"in a sense an expression of thankfulness is simply an expression of humility it says i have become your debtor and i don't resent it as though you made me a welfare case i receive it and i am glad for it and i want you to know that my gladness is owing in part to you and what you've done" [00:09:59]

"so in conclusion i would say as long as we are not detracting from god and we're acknowledging him behind and in everything that comes to us then thanking other people for the benefits they give us is a fitting humble expression of our glad indebtedness amen thank you pastor john and that mention of acts 26 verses 17 to 18 uh that you just made is quite a startling text to meditate on in this line of thinking" [00:10:28]

"the resurrected christ appeared to paul and commissioned him to the gentiles in order to open the eyes of unbelievers to the gospel it's a stunning commission and one we've talked about on this podcast in abj episodes 841 1209 and 1344 stunning episodes 841 1209 and 1344 if you want to dwell on that text more fully thank you for joining us today" [00:11:02]

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