Thankful Thursday
Thursday, October 7, 2010 at 11:45AM 
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him… (Romans 1:19-21 ESV)
I’ve been reading slowly through Romans since last spring—I’m on chapter 11 as I write this—and now we’re starting through Romans in the sermons in church. As I was thinking about my Thankful Thursday post this morning, this passage from Romans 1, especially the phrase “or give thanks to him” popped into my head.
This started me thinking about what it was the people refered to in Romans 1, who knew only what God revealed about himself in his creation, should have been thankful for. Then I had this thought: If it was inexcusable for them to be ungrateful to God for those things, how much more inexcusable is it for me, who has even clearer disclosure of his creative work, to be ungrateful for those same things.
They should have been thankful that God is not like them; they should have been thankful for God’s invisible attributes. They should have been thankful for the divine perfections of God—and so should I. So I’m thankful, right now, that God is eternal and unchanging and independent, all characteristics of God that can be known from creation. His care for me is constant and secure because he is constant and secure in himself, and for that, I thank him. I’m thankful that God is wise, another perfection shown to us in creation. This assures me that God’s plan for me and his plan for history are both perfect.
The people mentioned in Romans 1 should have been thankful for the things God provided for them through the created order—and so should I. This afternoon, then, I’m thanking God for the sun shining through the windows, ripening the potted tomatoes and keeping the house warm. The same sun helped provide me with the vegies from the garden that we are still eating, so I am thankful to God this year’s supply of vegies. I’m thankful for the birdberries out my window that will provide winter food for the birds. I’m thankful for the oil that will fuel the furnace, giving me heat for me in the winter.
I’ll probably think of many more things to add as I go about my work. What can you add?
Can I say that I’m thankful that I have special revelation, so that I know more of God’s work than those who have only the general revelation of nature? I’m thankful, in particular, for Romans 1, because it helps set the stage for Romans 3.
On Thursdays throughout this year, I plan to post a few thoughts of thanksgiving along with Kim at the Upward Call and others. Why don’t you participate by posting your thanksgiving each week, too? It’ll be an encouragement to you and to others, I promise.
Reader Comments (2)
Amen. I am grateful for the book of Romans too; and I love how you said this:
"Can I say that I’m thankful that I have special revelation in addition to the general revelation of nature, so that I know more of God’s work? "
O I am grateful indeed! I raise my voice with you to praise the Giver of all good things -including understanding and revelation to our minds-
I'm thankful that God is an All Knowing, Powerful Loving Father who is slow to anger and those who don't believe simply need to check with JESUS to confirm "IT".
Amen!