Daniel 6 – Jonah 2 – Acts 27 – Living With Gratitude teaches us that Gratitude is learning the satisfaction in God’s greatness, not our own. Living with gratitude is easier said than done! Our sinful nature defaults to entitlement as we seek our own greatness. When we face hardships and trials in our lives how do we live with gratitude? God’s love and forgiveness are the foundation for a grateful heart, which we see in the biblical characters of Daniel, Jonah and the Apostle Paul. Daniel 6 – Jonah 2 – Acts 27 – Living With Gratitude is a message on how we can live with gratitude no matter our circumstances.
Living with Gratitude:
Entitlement is the Enemy of Gratitude
An Entitled spirit produces:
Selfish ambition
Self Righteousness
Self Reliance
“Our underlying problem is a deep desire not to find our satisfaction in God’s greatness, but our own.” – John Piper
In the Book of Luke, Jesus teaches: “Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and the head table at banquets. Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be severely punished.”
How do we live with Gratitude?
Living With Gratitude Begins When our Striving Ends
The Apostle Paul writes: “For when I tried to keep the law, it condemned me. So I died to the law—I stopped trying to meet all its requirements—so that I might live for God. 20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:19-20, (NLT) https://www.blueletterbible.org/nlt/gal/2/19-20/s_1093019
Living with Gratitude – Daniel 6
Gratitude is a Result of God’s Love for Us
Not the love for our Circumstances
Living with Gratitude – Jonah 2
Gratitude is a proper Response when we’re Forgiven of our sin
Living with Gratitude – Acts 27
Gratitude brings Abundant Joy to Life’s Storms
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Living With Gratitude is Satisfaction in God’s Greatness; not our own
The Apostle John writes of John the Baptist: “So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Rabbi, the man you met on the other side of the Jordan River, the one you identified as the Messiah, is also baptizing people. And everybody is going to Him instead of coming to us.” John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for Him.’ It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the bridegroom’s friend is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at His success. He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.”
John 3:26-30, (NLT) https://www.blueletterbible.org/nlt/jhn/3/26-30/s_1000026
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