The importance of gratitude is so significant that it can change our entire mental framework and affect our inner well-being. A famous English Bible scholar named Matthew Henry was once attacked by thieves and robbed. He wrote these words in his diary: “Let me be thankful. First, no one ever robbed me before. Second, although they took my purse, they didn’t take my life. Third, although they took my all, it was not much. Fourth, I am thankful that I did not rob but was robbed.”[1]
Noah had a similar perspective as he left the ark. The Lord had preserved Noah and his family’s lives because of His grace. God brought them through the flood that destroyed the rest of humanity. Noah shows his gratitude to God in a way that gives insight into his heart. Genesis 8: 20 Then Noah built an altar to the Lord, and there he sacrificed as burnt offerings the animals and birds that had been approved for that purpose.[2]
The Action of Gratitude
There is something special about Noah building an altar to thank God for his intervention. I believe Noah built the altar as a labor of love. Noah did it to respond in love to God, not because he had to. Paul speaks of this. 1 Thessalonians 5: 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. [3]
As Noah built the altar and made a sacrifice, the Lord shows us how important gratitude is to Him. Genesis 8: 21 And the Lord was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice and said to himself, “I will never again curse the ground because of the human race, even though everything they think or imagine is bent toward evil from childhood. I will never again destroy all living things.[4]
Noah’s response is a model of how we need to respond to God’s blessings. When we experience God’s goodness, our immediate reaction should be gratitude. This gratitude may stem from answered prayers, blessings in our lives, and His patience with us. Even in storms of life, we can be thankful because God walks through our circumstances with us, and we are never alone.
Giving Thanks to Our Savior
As Jesus shared the Last Supper with His disciples, He knew the cross awaited Him. Luke 22: 19 He (Jesus) took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” [5]
As Christians, we are called to live a life of gratitude in all circumstances. The greatest gift we will ever receive is salvation and eternity in heaven with Jesus, angels, and saints. Oh, Lord, how thankful I am for what you have done!
To learn more about the importance of gratitude, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/navigating-the-floods-of-life
[1] https://www.preachingtoday.com/illustrations/1996/march/1394.html
[2-5] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.