Give Gr-atitude

This message invites us into a profound reflection on gratitude as a spiritual discipline and way of life. Drawing from Galatians 6:1-10, we're challenged to examine what it truly means to have a grateful heart—not just in words, but in actions that restore, serve, and uplift others. The sermon beautifully contrasts the ungrateful complaints of the Israelites in the wilderness with the transformative power of thankfulness that comes from knowing Christ. We're reminded of the ten lepers Jesus healed in Luke 17, where only one returned to give thanks, prompting Jesus to ask, 'Where are the other nine?' This question pierces our own hearts: Are we among the grateful or the forgetful? The remarkable story of Paul Alexander, who lived 70 years in an iron lung yet maintained constant gratitude and accomplished extraordinary things, demonstrates that our circumstances don't define our capacity for thankfulness. When we recognize that everything we have—our life, health, family, and salvation—comes from God, we realize we have nothing to give Him except our gratitude. This gratitude then flows outward, compelling us to restore the fallen with gentleness, bear one another's burdens, and sow seeds of the Spirit rather than the flesh. The parable of the Good Samaritan becomes our model: approaching the wounded with compassion rather than condemnation, investing in their healing, and trusting God for the outcome. We're called to examine what we're sowing daily, knowing that whatever we plant—whether seeds of flesh or Spirit—we will eventually harvest.