Remaining Grateful

The bible says that in serving others we are to expect nothing in return, to give freely as we have been given. The only thing I expect though is gratitude that those whom you are good to are grateful in return. Many times though the people you help still tear you down by fault-finding, not being thankful, making you feel like you can never do enough. Not that I need someone's gratitude to feel good about myself, it just seems it should be the natural response.

When someone has been good to you for so long you get accustomed to it, and begin to expect it, so you hardly even realize anymore how good you got it, unless it is gone. This happens often with our spouses, parents, spiritual leaders, etc. I can see even with my walk with God I am less thankful that I use to be. I am so use to God's grace & mercy that I don't appreciate it like I use to, even my worship is more dignified now, not as openly expressive as it was in my younger days.

Usually the people that are the most expressive in praise & worship are those who appreciate what God has done for them the most. It is those who have been saved from the darkest of sins.

We forget where we would be in life if it wasn't for our heavenly Father. We can become like this religious Pharisee in Luke 7:36-50. We may show some type pf gratitude towards Jesus, like we give our tithes and offering, come to church, hold a bible study, etc, but our love towards God is nothing compared to those who still appreciate what God has done. For we see a woman with deep sexual sin having no decency by interrupting this dinner weeping before the Lord, even kissing His dirty feet and putting perfume on them. Instead of the Pharisee joining this woman in worshipping Jesus He judges Jesus saying "He must be no true prophet for He would know what kind of woman is touching him. She's a sinner!"

For those of us who have been saved awhile we can be just like this, looking at someone worshipping God extravagantly knowing they are still in sin and thinking who gives them the right to worship God like this? Well the answer is, Jesus does?

Jesus gave Simon the Pharisee a lesson which He does with all of us who begin to become religious, thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought. Jesus came to save sinners, and we are all sinners apart from Him, the only way sin is overcome is by drawing near to Him. Worship is not us celebrating how good we are it is celebrating how good He is. Then as we draw near He cleanses us from and empowers us to overcome sin.