The WONDER OF GRATITUDE

This is week seven in our series on what Scripture teaches us about the value of wonder in our lives and ministries.
  
Today’s Scripture passage is Hebrews 12:28 (NIRV)

We are receiving a kingdom that can’t be shaken. So let us be thankful. Then we can worship God in a way that pleases him. Let us worship him with deep respect and wonder.

During this series we’ve talked about the importance of wondering at the things that God has done and the things that He is doing around us each day, but this verse points us both to what He did for us through Jesus and what He is going to do. “We are receiving a kingdom that can’t be shaken.” As believers, we are receiving this kingdom because of what Jesus did for us in His life, death, and resurrection. His sacrifice restored our relationship with God. It reconciled us to Him. It is because of that that we are receiving this unshakable kingdom.

Not only does this point to what Jesus did and is doing for us, but it also points toward the day that He will return again and establish His new Kingdom restoring all things. When this verse says, “So let us be thankful” there is so much for us to be thankful for. We should be thankful for our salvation, thankful for our relationship with God, thankful for being adopted into an unshakeable kingdom, and thankful that one day all things will be made right.

That thankfulness should bring about worship that is fueled by both “deep respect and wonder.” We’ve talked before about the importance of letting wonder lead us to worship. True wonder along with deep respect and appreciation for what God has done is best expressed through worshiping Him. All of this comes from a place of gratitude.

Gratitude has become a bit of a buzz word in our world today. We see signs and home decor reminding us to be grateful. Scientists have told us that gratitude improves our physical health by helping to lower stress. They’ve also shared the ways that it can improve mental health and relationships. None of this is new though. Throughout the Bible, God reminds us time and time again to be thankful, just like we find in this verse. It’s hard to stay envious or discontent or discouraged when we are taking time to be thankful and grateful.

So, what are you thankful for today? Start with what God has done and is doing for you and take time to thank Him for that and more. Allow that gratitude to spark wonder and respect for Him, and allow that wonder and respect to fuel your time of worship today.