Episode Transcript
[00:00:07] Speaker A: Welcome to the weekday podcast of Sugar Hill Church, where we desire to help you know God and discover your purpose, whether you're exercising, driving, meditating, or just hanging out while you tune in with us today. Thanks. We hope these next five minutes help you feel encouraged and inspired for your day.
[00:00:22] Speaker B: Hi, everybody. Pastor Chuck Allen here with another weekday podcast where in the book of romans, in chapter 12, verse one says, and so I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice, the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship Him. You know, folks, true gratitude isn't just an emotion. It's emotion. Did you get that? It's not just an emotion, but it is a motion. It moves us. When we're truly thankful, we can't help but respond with action. Think about this. When somebody does something incredibly kind for you, don't you look for ways to express your appreciation? I mean, of course we do. We don't always do it, and we don't always remember to. But at least it crossed our mind. In the story of the ten lepers from Luke 17, all of the men were healed, but only one returned to give thanks. And here's the fascinating part. Jesus told this one man that his faith had made him whole. A big difference between healing and wholeness. I want it all, don't you? All 10 were healed of leprosy, but this man received something more wholeness that goes way beyond physical healing. And this is what happens when gratitude becomes more than an attitude. It transforms us. We stop asking, what's the minimum that I need to do? And start asking, what can I offer? We move from duty to delight, from obligation to opportunity. I mean, consider Mary of Bethany, who poured expensive perfume on Jesus feet. When others criticized her waist, which is what they referred to it, Jesus defended her action as a beautiful expression of her gratitude. Her thankfulness wasn't calculated or constrained. It was extravagant. That's what real gratitude does. It prompts us to pour out our lives in response to God's grace. The apostle Paul, he got this principle deeply after encountering Jesus on the Damascus road. His entire life became a response of gratitude. He wrote, but by the grace of God, I am what I am. And his grace to me was not without effect. He wrote that to the church in Corinth. Paul's gratitude wasn't just a feeling. It fueled a lifetime of service. And maybe you're thinking, chuck, I don't have much to give. Well, remember, gratitude isn't about the size of the gift. It's about the size of the heart giving it. You might not have money, but you do have time. You might not have resources, but you do have encouragement. You might not have influence, but you do have prayer. Every act of service, every word of encouragement, every moment spent in prayer for others becomes an expression of thanks to God. So today, be specific. List three specific blessings God's given you. Be detailed. Be personal. And for each blessing, write down two ways you can use it to bless others, one immediate action that you can take today and one longer term commitment that you can make. So friends, let's be grateful. Thanks so much for joining me on today's weekday podcast.
[00:03:41] Speaker A: Thanks so much for joining us today for the weekday podcast. Our prayer is that the encouragement you just heard would help you live more like Jesus today. We would love to see you at Sugar Hill Church for one of our gatherings each Sunday at 9, 15 and 11. And we're always streaming live at Live Sugarhill Church. Thanks again for joining us today. As always, if today's message encouraged you, share it with friends and family by tapping the share button. Have an awesome day.
