How Thanking God Changes Us: The Power of Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving for God and His creation purifies Christians. Every sin in your heart begins with discontentment for God and His creation.
The man who lusts is unthankful for the wife or singleness God has given him.
The greedy man is unthankful for the possessions God has given him.
The murderous man is unthankful for God’s sovereign providence.
The disobedient child is unthankful for the parents God has given him.
The liar is unthankful for God’s sovereign providence.
And so on...
This is why the Bible begins with, “In the beginning, God...” And the 10 Commandments begin with, “Worship God only...” And the Two Great Commandments begin with “Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind.”
This is also why Israel’s worship was so meticulous. God was training the affections of His people towards Him, but only those who believed had their affections shaped toward Him.
When you’re thankful for God and His creation, you cease from sin, which won’t fully occur until we’re perfectly thankful for Him in eternity. This is why worshipping Him, by the Spirit through the Son to the Father, is so essential. You become like who or what you worship: either God for good or idols for worthlessness.
See Psalm 115:1-8 and Ephesians 5:1-6:
Psalm 115:1-8 -
Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness! 2 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” 3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. 4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands. 5 They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see. 6 They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell. 7 They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat. 8 Those who make them become like them; so do all who trust in them.
Ephesians 5:1-6 -
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.