Thanksgiving And Depravity

Hello Precious Reader. Happy New Year again.

Last week Friday was the first Friday of the year 2021 and I was privileged to post a prayer for the new year. You can read by clicking here.

Today, I write on the connection between Thanksgiving and the depravity of the human soul. Actually, Thanksgiving in this context is acknowledging God. It didn’t just seem like a cool topic to say “acknowledgment and depravity”.. Ahahahah.

Last week we talked about the best prayer you can pray for yourself in a new year and today we want to talk about the foundational reason we see a lot of depravity in the world we live in. You’ve heard of ridiculous happenings; Fathers and Mothers having sex with their children, Children killing parents, same gender sexually drawn to themselves, bestiality, confusion of gender, and so many others…

Listen to this, a certain preacher of God whose name I can’t recall at the moment of writing this said that God is not angry at homosexuality, homosexuality is a sign that God is angry. This statement is so true because it is totally scriptural.

Let’s look into the Word of God then I’ll write briefly on this matter.

Romans 1:18-32 (KJV)
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”

Hey!!! Why didn’t you read that scripture? Yeah I know it’s long but you still have to read it. Don’t rush it. Go back and read. Thank you.

What does it mean to acknowledge God?

People can acknowledge God in so many ways but I believe the foundation of it is Thanksgiving. Acknowledging God is recognizing and honoring the right of God, His authority and His status. It is agreeing with and believing His word.

…and listen to me, the absence of this, is the foundational cause of depravity. I don’t need to write much on that, it is clear in the scriptures.

For a believer, you must always remember that you live constantly by faith. It is important you acknowledge God every time, every day (nothing like ‘of course I’m born again but…’) because there is a kind of depravity a believer falls into and if not checked may deteriorate into what we see in the world. For example, when all a believer does is complain ,when they do not seek the counsel of God, when as a believer, you don’t see anything good to thank God for, and all you do is speak about the evil and the discomfort and the harshness of life, you are slipping into depravity.

I am always grateful for an event I experienced. I glorify God for it because I learnt from it that a person can increase in godliness and another into depravity even by refusing to acknowledge God in the least thing.

So, that day it rained heavily and I was in the rain trying to catch a cab, a bike, a tricycle…anything that moves faster than my feet. At some point I started walking, hoping I’ll get a vehicle to board then I got to a place, after crossing a flooded road with my shoes soaked because I had to walk in water with them, I saw a drainage and dirty water flowing down with speed and torrent. Guess what came out of my mouth,

“This is beautiful engineering work. Thank you God for giving skill to man to construct such beauty”.

Listen, it was not rehearsed, it was not memorized, it was a flow of living water from my belly and I was glad I let it flow. I realized how much God had helped me that despite my condition, I could only give thanks and acknowledge that it was God that gave man the skill to construct. I didn’t complain when it started raining and I was soaked, I didn’t nag when my shoes got soaked, I didn’t curse in my heart when there was no vehicle to board, I just gave thanks. When I did, I Let open the flood gates within my belly and I gave thanks for something as small as a drainage and till now, I am joyful when I remember that drainage and that rain.

When you see a believer whose hope is in a government, a nation or a system, they are on the verge of slipping into depravity.

Acknowledging God is not in a mindless, rehearsed, memorized order of thanksgiving. Though, God has commanded that you acknowledge Him, He is not so hungry for it as to just receive it from you no matter how you present it. Look at Isaiah 1:10-17 to see how He hates such acknowledgement.

He rather wants the acknowledgement that goes beyond the walls of the church, the pretence of religion and the hypocrisy of the heart. He wants genuine acknowledgement, the kind that is a sweet smelling savor to the Lord even from the corners of your closet. Take a look at that kind of acknowledgement in Malachi.

Malachi 3:16 (KJV)
“Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.”

My Friend, depravity doesn’t begin from stealing, telling a lie, homosexuality and other depraved acts prospering in various countries of the world today, the problem begins when man refuses to acknowledge God in the light of Revelation 4:11, the problem begins when a fool says in his heart ‘There is no God’ as in Psalm 14:1, depravity begins when a proud heart refuses to commit his ways unto God.

Today, as you have heard the voice of God calling you to repentance, harden not your heart. Choose to acknowledge Him first thing you do when you wake (not a religious act or ritual). Learn to give thanks for food, thank Him in adverse seasons. Praise Him for who He is. This path leads to more and more godliness.

Say a word of prayer asking God to help you, through His Holy Spirit, to acknowledge Him in everything. To help you honor His right, authority and status every time. Amen.

Thank you for reading from me today. Don’t forget to share, like and drop a comment. You can also follow me on twitter here for updates.

God bless you.

Photo Source: https://images.app.goo.gl/HxJ1M5XykT9QrXcG9

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