Memorize: To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee forever; Psalm 30:12
Devotional Reading, Psalm 37:1-11
The attitude of some believers casts doubt on the substance of their Faith. The whole essence of Christianity and the hub of its foundation is “Love”, John 3:16: explains and confirm this. Many profess to have love and claim to be thankful; but careful examination would reveal that a large proportion of these people fall short on the merit of their claim, they are thankful with reproach.
Some of those who profess love harbour hate in secret and with confession of their thankfulness, they battle with covetousness and jealousy – making their gratitide to be without a pure heart. Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves;.. 2 Corinthians 13:5.
According to seventeenth-century British clergyman Joseph Hall, there are three reasons we aren’t as grateful as we should be: envy, pride, and covetousness. Envy, said Hall, is looking more at someone else’s blessings than at our own. Pride is looking more at ourselves than at our blessings. And covetousness is looking more at what we wish we had than at what we actually have. When church members, co-workers, schoolmates, or family members become jealous of each other, it eats away at the foundation of a loving relationship.
This spirit can only be replaced when we recognize it for what it is; the sin of coveting. We want something possessed by another person; time, money, popularity, success, or whatever it is. When it exists, covetousness or jealousy is a sin to be confessed. Loving, thankfulness and compassion is an attitude to be embraced. “The cure for the sin of envy and jealousy is to find our contentment in God, and be thankful with a pure heart. As we examine ourselves, we recognize where sin exists. Only then can we confess it and replace it with a thankful heart that is pure and holy; and above reproach.
May the Lord today remove every pride, jealousy and covetousness hidden in secret places of every heart so that we can show acceptable gratitude unto God which comes from a pure heart.
Prayer point: My father and my God, please help me show gratitude unto you from a pure heart in the name of Jesus.
Key Dose: Gratitude from a pure heart attracts unhindered blessings.
Pastor James Ademuyiwa
Senior Pastor (IHPCT)
