Thank God for His Indescribable Gift
God is the giver of every good and every perfect gift (Jas 1:17). In fact, He so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ (Jn 3:16). The Apostle Paul alluded to the best gift of God as “the indescribable gift” (2 Cor 9:15). It is the preacher’s calling to unpack this gift and explain Him.
The congregation’s task is to thank God for the gift of His Son…it is right to give Him thanks and praise! God’s chosen people must also thank God for the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; 10:45). Without the indwelling Holy Spirit (Jn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 11), the natural man cannot accept the things of the Spirit (1 Cor 2:14). The Spirit of God has brought the books of the Bible into existence, as their divine author (2 Tim 3:16; 2 Pet 1:20–21); and He is our Bible Teacher (Jn 14:26).
It is by the will of God that one receives Christ (Jn 1:12–13). Having received Christ, the born again now walk in Him (Col 2:6). This new life causes one to abound with thanksgiving (Col 2:7); for God has forgiven all our sins (Ps 103:3; Mt 26:28; Eph 1:7), by the shedding of His Son’s precious blood on the cross (Heb 9:22; 1 Pet 1:19). Jesus gave Himself a ransom for many (Mt 20:28; Mk 10:45), when He bore our sins in His body on the cursed tree (1 Pet 2:24).
No deed that God the Father has done compares to the gift of giving His Son. Likewise, nothing compares to the gift of Jesus offering Himself as an acceptable sacrifice for the sins of His people, whom He came to save (Mt 1:21). In the same way, the application of the gift of salvation is the Holy Spirit’s incomparable work (Eph 2:8–9).
All the works of our triune God are worthy of our gratitude; but how we must be stirred at these indescribable gifts granted to us. All the matters of salvation are centered in the Person and work of Christ; but like the hub of a wheel, all the blessings and benefits project out from Jesus’ death at Golgotha.
God gives His elect, redeemed, regenerate people exactly what He requires of them for right standing (righteousness) before Him. Apart from Christ, there is nothing we could do to find favor with God (Jn 15:5). Therefore, let us come before His presence with thanksgiving (Ps 95:2a), “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures, forever (1 Chr 16:34; Ps 107:1).”
Gratitude due Him means that we always give thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our God and Father (Eph 5:20). The Apostle Paul also emphasized this to the Thessalonians who were to give thanks in every circumstance (1 Thess 5:18). One reason our gratitude in everything cannot fail is that God causes all things to work together for good for those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose (Rom 8:28).
The reality of three Persons doing these good works for our benefit allows our thanksgiving to be ascribed to each one for the unique function they perform individually. If a general gratitude is lifted in prayer, it is to be made to the Father, through the Son, and in the Spirit (Eph 5:18–20; Col 3:17).
We are commanded to be thankful (Col 3:15). We offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving (Ps 50:14), from the heart, whether it be in song or prayer (Col 3:16). We are to sing to the Lord and proclaim His salvation day after day (1 Chr 16:23). We praise His name (1 Chr 29:13), which is above every other name (Phil 2:9), as the fruit of our lips, continually (Heb 13:15). In this way, we magnify His holy name (Ps 69:30).
In God’s economy, He supplies absolutely everything we have for life and for ministry (Rom 11:36; 2 Cor 9:8). In this way, we have God alone to thank. The gift of the Holy Spirit then gifts us gifts to employ for the benefit of others. When praise and thanks is directed to us, we immediately re-direct it to God, our provider.
It is an act of spiritual warfare for us to give thanks to God. We magnify His name in the midst of so-called “gods” who vie for allegiance from every man (Ps 138:1). God is glorified for being the source and for being generous. The demons who pose as gods are exposed for being frauds. There is no one beside our God (Is 45:6), who sits in the heavens and does as He pleases in executing His sovereign will (Ps 115:3; 135:6).
God’s Word is truth (Jn 14:6; 17:17); and His reputation is attached to His name (Ps 138:2). Therefore, we see the impeccable and immutable character of God in providing all good things for the sustenance of life amongst His living organisms.
The pinnacle of God’s creation is man made in God’s image, male and female. A line of communication, even after the fall of man into sin, was established for us to call upon the name of the Lord (Ps 138:3). Whatever is in a man’s heart will manifest in his relationship with his Creator. The natural man scoffs at God because that is what is in his heart (Rom 1:30). The spiritual man loves God because God has poured out His love in that man’s heart (Rom 5:5; 1 Cor 2:15). It is the spiritual man, made alive in Christ (Eph 2:5; Col 2:13), who finds joy in expressing His gratitude for the kindness, the mercy, the grace, and everything else God has afforded to him. God is good; and this man knows it to be true.
The glory of the Lord, as told by men of God to kings and peasants alike, causes men to worship and adore the Lord, if He befriends them. He does this by speaking to them with His Word. They hear, and by His grace, they believe what the Spirit is saying to them (Ps 138:4; Rom 10:17).
It is the proud who have no audience with the Lord. He gives grace to the humble, who walk with Him on the narrow way that leads to life. The haughty rise up against Christ and His church. They suppress the truth in unrighteousness, and they refuse to give thanks to God (Rom 1:18, 20). These persecute the church, the ambassadors for Christ, and His kingdom (2 Cor 5:20). They resist the Holy Spirit at every opportunity permitted. He that is in the Christian is greater than he that is in the world (1 Jn 4:4).
The Christian’s victory, in union with Christ, is his or her faith in Christ (1 Jn 5:4). The believer in Jesus knows whom he has believed; and he is convinced by the Spirit and the Word that God is able to keep that which he has committed to God against the day of evil…until Christ comes again on the day of judgment (2 Tim 1:12).
It is God who accomplishes everything that concerns the saints of the Most High (Ps 138:8). God is willing; and He is able to do above and beyond all we could think or imagine in giving us new life…abundant…and eternal. Therefore, we press our petitions to Him, “Do not forsake the work of Your hands,” and He has already answered in the promise to never leave nor forsake His own (Heb 13:5).
In conclusion, God gives us everything. We give thanks in everything. In this, we have our place in the perfect economy. This Thanksgiving Day/weekend, may you heap an extra portion of gratitude on to your prayers and songs of praise. He is worthy because He has given us the indescribable gift of Himself.
David Norczyk
Spokane Valley, Washington
November 22, 2023
Psalm 138
