Gratitude: The Mark of the Redeemed

Each November, we pause as a nation to give thanks. But for the Christian, gratitude isn’t a seasonal sentiment, it’s a way of life. In Psalm 116:12, David asks a timeless question: “What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits to me?” In light of Paul's prayer of thankfulness that we have been studying, in this blog, I would like to consider how gratitude is a mark of the redeemed, from creation to consummation.

1. Created to Worship with Gratitude

In the beginning, God created the world as a theater of His glory. “The heavens declare the glory of God,” the psalmist says, “and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.” The whole earth reflects His steadfast love. Humanity was the crown of that creation. Humans were made in God’s image and designed to worship Him with thanksgiving.

But sin shattered this design. Adam and Eve’s rebellion began with ingratitude. They doubted God’s goodness, believing He withheld something better from them. In refusing to thank Him, they reached for autonomy, and “ingratitude” became the seed of rebellion.

Ever since, humanity’s default posture has been one of thanklessness. Paul describes this in Romans 1:21: “They did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him.” The result is idolatry. When we fail to thank God, we inevitably thank something else—ourselves, our possessions, our careers, or our pleasures. The heart created to adore God becomes a factory of false worship.

2. Redeemed to Worship with Gratitude

Yet God, rich in mercy, did not leave us in that dreadful condition. He sent His Son to redeem us…to buy us back and restore what sin destroyed. Redemption not only rescues us from wrath, it renews God’s image in us. Through the gospel, blind eyes are opened to see the mercy of God in Christ.

When the Holy Spirit pours the love of God into our hearts, He awakens a new song of thanksgiving. “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,” Psalm 107 declares. Gratitude becomes the new language of the redeemed. Paul captures this in Romans 12:1, “I appeal to you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

We do not worship to earn God’s favor, but because we already have it. Gratitude becomes the heartbeat of our obedience.

3. Sanctified to Worship with Gratitude

Sanctification (the Spirit’s ongoing work in believers to free them from the power of sin) deepens this posture of thankfulness. Through Ezekiel, God promised:

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you… I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes” (Ezekiel 36:26–27).

This new heart is tender, teachable, and thankful. Cleansed from idols, it delights to obey. Gratitude fuels holiness, and holiness amplifies gratitude. Paul exhorts believers to “walk in Christ… abounding in thanksgiving” (Colossians 2:6–7) and to “give thanks always” (Ephesians 5:18–20).

A thankful spirit is not merely a byproduct of sanctification, it is one of salvations clearest evidences. It is the fruit of the gospel as Pastor Andrew spoke about on Sunday. The Christian who knows every breath, every blessing, every moment is a gift of grace cannot help but say, “Thank You, Lord.”

4. Glorified to Worship with Gratitude

One day, our pilgrimage to heaven will reach its glorious end. When Christ returns, we shall see Him and be made like Him. On that day, we will be free forever from the presence of sin. Our glorified bodies will be perfectly tuned for worship, our hearts perfectly full of thankfulness.

On that eternal day, we will join the chorus in Revelation 7:10: “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” No tears, no sorrow, only joy-filled worship. This is the purest gratitude imaginable.

Living Thankful Today

Until that day, gratitude must shape every corner of our lives.

• In our homes: Are we thankful for the spouse God has given us? Do we love and lead or submit with the selfless, sacrificial love of Christ? Are we raising our children in the discipline and instruction of the Lord, grateful for the privilege of stewarding their souls

• In our work: Do we perform our duties “as unto the Lord,” or do we complain about our bosses and workloads? Gratitude transforms labor into worship. It sees every opportunity as a divine appointment to do good to others and show them the love of Christ.

• In our churches: Do we joyfully submit to the shepherds Christ has placed over us? Are we thankful for the gifts the Spirit has entrusted to us, and are we using them to build up the body rather than seeking only to be served? Do we thank God for faithful preaching, or for brothers and sisters who bear our burdens and hold us accountable for our professions of faith?

  
  

What about you? What is the posture of your own heart? When others look at you, would “gratitude” be something that they would describe as a characteristic? 

If not, then I encourage you to contemplate the glory of the cross, the humiliation of our Savior, and all the covenant mercies that have come to us by His hand. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” — Ephesians 1:3