November 19 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

1 Thessalonians 5:14–22

Devotional

The story is told of a ship that was in great danger. All people on board that ship fell on their knees to beseech the Lord to preserve their lives. They saw death before their eyes and yet asked God for a miracle, to spare them in life. They believed that the Lord was mighty to do so. It was prayer day on that ship that was about to sink beneath the waves.

The Lord answered their prayers and they all arrived safely on land. What a joy this was. They were spared from death and kept in life. This event was something they would remember for the rest of their lives.

Yet they forgot one thing. When they arrived safely on land, they forgot to be thankful for their answered prayers. There was joy, but joy is not thankfulness. They had forgotten the One who answers prayer. When they were saved from the waves, they did not need God anymore.

It appears that there are more prayer days than thanksgiving days in the lives of most people. These men were not true men of prayer, because true prayer is always followed by thanksgiving when the Lord has answered prayer. To be thankful is a difficult task. It is an impossible task from man’s side. Whenever a person is in need, there are always good intentions. When he is on a sickbed, the resolutions regarding his spiritual life may be many. But to what do his resolutions actually lead? Where is his thanksgiving?

The disciples said, “Lord, teach us to pray.” They had heard Christ pray in His perfect prayer. Then they realized that they were unable to pray. In like manner we should ask the Lord, “Teach us to give thanks. Lord, give us a place where we may appear before Thy face to end in Thee the Benefactor.” When we have not been taught by God to be thankful, we are content with the blessings of God, but sorrowfully are also content to live without God. We need to learn to give thanks in everything.

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.