“… when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools…” (Rom. 1:21-22).
We live in a world that has gone mad. The Bible says that when sin goes unchecked, people go insane. Thinking that they are wise, they become fools. And so they have, all around us, right on schedule.
There are many temptations in this kind of moment. One is just plain fear: terrified of what new madness they will think up next. Another might be pride or self righteousness: at least we know the difference between boys and girls.
But this table teaches us the right response to all of it: Gratitude, thanksgiving to God for all of His good gifts. In fact, Romans says that it is the refusal to give thanks that leads to the madness. They refused to give thanks and worship God as God, therefore they became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Therefore, giving thanks is the medicine, the solution, the cure for the insanity at all around us.
When the Spirit was poured out at Pentecost, the people watching and listening were amazed to hear in their own native languages “the wonderful works of God” (Acts 2:11). We frequently emphasize the different languages part, but really just as miraculous and powerful was the “wonderful works of God” part. When the Spirit falls, people are filled with gratitude. When the Spirit falls, people start talking about Jesus and His salvation and all of His good gifts. When the Spirit falls people are put back in their right minds, and the sanity that returns is a sanity of deep thanksgiving.
Do you want to actually be wise? Give thanks. Do you want to see clearly? Give thanks. Do you want this land to recover from its madness? Cultivate gratitude everywhere: in your car, at work, in your home, around the dinner table, all flowing from this table, from Christ. So come and welcome to Jesus Christ.
Photo by Warren Wong on Unsplash
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