1 Thessalonians 5:18

How can we express our gratitude to God

Last week, as we celebrated National Day, Pastor’s Heart reflected on the story of Jesus healing ten men with leprosy in Luke 17:11–17, and what it means to receive God’s grace with a thankful heart. Today, I would like to take this a step further and consider how we can express our gratitude to God in our daily lives.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess 5:18)

It is worth noting that the only person who returned to thank Jesus was a Samaritan. The other nine were Israelites. Those who might have been expected to show gratitude did not return, while the Samaritan, someone looked down upon by the Jews, came back to give thanks. This is a timely reminder for us as children of God who have been redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. How, then, can we express our gratitude to God?

1. Begin with a Grateful Heart towards God : The Samaritan did not dwell on the suffering he had endured. Instead, when he realised that he had been healed, he returned, “praising God in a loud voice” (Lk 17:15). In the same way, Scripture calls us to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thess 5:18). God is good, and we are His beloved children. He has already given us His very best: Jesus Christ. We can therefore trust that He will not withhold what is good for us. Even when we face difficult circumstances, we can trust that God is still at work. We may not understand His purposes immediately, but as we choose to trust Him and wait patiently, we may come to see more clearly what He is doing in our lives.

2. Love and Serve One Another in the Church : We express our gratitude by loving one another as brothers and sisters in Christ, caring for those in need, giving faithfully, taking an active part in the ministries of the church, and supporting evangelism and missions.

3. Be a Blessing in Society : We can show our gratitude by doing our part to preserve the religious and racial harmony that we enjoy in Singapore. Beyond being responsible and law-abiding citizens, we should be willing to help others and reflect the character of Christ in the way we live.

4. Pray for and Support Our Leaders : We can pray for our government leaders and officials, support policies that contribute to the good of society, and offer constructive suggestions where improvements can be made.

5. Care for God’s Creation : We can also express our gratitude by caring for God’s creation, supporting environmental efforts, avoiding unnecessary waste, and choosing to live simply.

These are just a few ways we can put our gratitude into action. As the Lord leads you, there will be many other ways to express it. But it all begins with recognising how deeply God loves and cares for us. When we truly know and experience His love, we will learn how to love and care for others.