Thank you? Yes, thank you!

Have you ever thought about the power of those words? Have you ever asked yourself, "What's in a 'thank you'?" What causes us to say "thank you"? If my boss asks me to do a job, do I deserve a "thank you"? When I receive a gift from a friend, does he deserve a "thank you"? Sometimes we have been called a "thankless" society because we feel we deserve so many things. So why do we say "thank you"? Westerners who go to Pakistan, often times use the word shukriyah too much, and almost embarrass those whom they meet. Normal day to day jobs are carried out in Pakistan without the expectation of a "thank you." It's only when a person goes far beyond his call of duty, that a "thank you" is in order.

This brings us to a more important question. Do you ever tell God "thank you"? Usually at some time or another we express our gratefulness to God for food, clothing, warm houses, family and friends. But do we ever thank him for forgiveness? Some people don't. What's worse is that some people don't think we need to. Why is this?

Consider this. When someone gives me a gift, I ought to say, "Thank you." But what if someone says, "If you do this for me, I will give you a gift."? I may thank him for the opportunity, but should I thank him for the gift, since I actually worked for it? And if I worked for it, it isn't a gift at all. Is this why people fail to thank God for forgiveness?

I can remember as a boy how I wanted a certain toy so much. If I wouldn't have gotten it, I would have been terribly disappointed. When I actually got the gift, it was better than I actually hoped for. I was humbled and yet so grateful. I thanked my parents over and over again. I couldn't believe that my parents had bought it for me. I knew I didn't deserve it because I had begged and begged them for it for months. Yet I used it and enjoyed many hours using it.

I would have been foolish to thank them before I actually got it, because I really didn't think I was going to get it. Even if I thought I would get it, and my parents intended to give it to me, something might have happened to make it impossible.

But are the gifts that God gives to us like the gifts that we receive here on earth? Do we deserve them? Does he promise them to us? Can we trust him to fulfill his promises?

The following are some portions from the Injil that speak of the nature of the gift that God wants to give you and how you need to thank him:

Again, the gift of God is not like the result of the one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ. (Injil, Romans 5:16,17)

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Injil, Romans 6:23)

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (Injil, James 1:17)

Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." (Injil, John 4:10)

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. (Injil, 1 Peter 4:10)

The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life. (Injil, Revelation 22:17)

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Injil, 1 Corinthians 15:57)

Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (Injil, 2 Corinthians 9:15)

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. (Injil, 2 Corinthians 2:14)

. giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. (Injil, Colossians 1:12)

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Injil, Colossians 3:17)

"Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honour and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!" (Injil, Revelation 7:12)

"We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign." (Injil, Revelation 11:17)