I head a Preacher say this years ago, three simple words … yet a powerful little sentence!
“EXPECTATIONS DESTROY GRATEFULNESS!”
If a person gives you a certain thing, and you feel you deserve it (and perhaps even more that that single item) … you will NOT be truly thankful for it. The donor has only acted in accordance with what you rightly figured on receiving.
After all, look who you are!
On the other hand, if someone gives you something, and you feel so unworthy, so humble, so meek … so “not deserving” of that boon … you will be exceedingly grateful!
If you Wife cooks you a delicious meal and she “owes” it to you as your (lucky) companion … you WILL not be grateful. Yet again … if you thought you might just eat a peanut butter sandwich … knowing how long it takes to cook a full orbed meal … you WILL more than likely be delighted, thankful!
Again I say it … “EXPECTATIONS DESTROY GRATEFUNESS!”
Spiritually now, if you “expect” God to bless you abundantly every day, that you ought to receive such “daily benefits” (after all you are quite the servant of the Lord) … I predict you will scarcely take time to sincerely say, “Thank You, Lord!”
But, conversely, if you consider yourself “unworthy” of even you next breath … I promise you … you will appreciate (from the depths of you soul) “every good and perfect gift!” (Which does come down from our Father above!)
The Verse that got me to so pontificate this morning?
Where Mephibosheth said to gracious King David … “And David said unto him, Fear not: for I will surely shew thee KINDNESS (GRACE) for Jonathan thy father’s sake, and will restore thee all the land of Saul thy father; and thou shalt eat bread at my table continually. And he bowed himself, and said, What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a DEAD DOG as I am?” 2 Samuel 9:7-8
Grateful … because unworthy!
I suggest to you this morning we are all unworthy of God’s blessings!
We do not deserve them!
That’s the very foundational definition of GRACE … “God’s unmerited favour!” We’re unworthy!
So if we … as He daily blesses us (if He so chooses) … are surprised, elated … we will tend to be more grateful, more thankful!
Mephibosheth sure was!
We were also dead in our sins when Jesus saved us! (“Dead dogs, dead Gentiles!)
So let me close by saying to Him …
THANK YOU, LORD!
I DESIRE TO BE MORE GRATEFUL TO YOUH THAN EVER BEFORE!
Because as the old song says: “I (truly) am not worthy of the least of His Favour!”
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
After all, us “dead dogs” do not deserve much!
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