Thankful, an adjective is an awareness of a benefit received, an expression of that awareness, or a feeling and/or attitude created by the awareness. Synonyms for thankful are; blissful, delighted, glad, grateful, gratified, happy, joyful, joyous, pleased, satisfied, tickled.
Thankfulness, a noun, has substance and is the cause of action.
Thanks is a noun and is an expression of grateful feelings in the form of a gift or just simply saying “thank you” to show thankfulness. A service rendered might be acknowledged by giving an object or money.
Today, gifts given to honor birthdays and weddings are recognized by the recipient using words or a card to express gratitude. In every age, the grateful have offered thanks by words or deeds. It is not surprising that we find in scripture that thanks of both words and deeds are expected by a loving God for the many benefits He showers upon His children. “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:15
All three words, along with thanksgiving and the phrase giving of thanks, are used in scripture to define the attitude of our hearts and our obedience to Him.
Notice David’s words in Psalms 107:21-22. “Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, And declare His works with rejoicing.” He wants men to offer “sacrifices of thanksgiving” and “words” declaring the works of God.
In Genesis 8:20, after being saved from the flood, we see that “…Noah built an altar to the LORD, and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.” This sacrifice by Noah, and much later described by David was made part of the Law through Moses. Leviticus 3 tells of the “Peace Offering” to be presented by thankful people to God in recognition that He and they were in “peace” and no longer separated by sin.
The description of this Peace Offering is, in part, described in Leviticus 7:11-12 “This is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings which he shall offer to the LORD: If he offers it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer, with the sacrifice of thanksgiving…” Here, the peace offering is also referred to as a sacrifice of thanksgiving.
The real sacrifice, making justification through faith and peace between God and His children, was Jesus Christ by dying on the cross. Colossians 1:20,“But the obligation to continually thank God for the justification, forgiveness of sins, and the peace we enjoy remains.”2 Thessalonians 2:13-15,“But we are bound (NKJV) (ought ESV)to give thanks to God always…” The idea expressed by the words bound or ought here and in parallel verses is that it is the right and or holy thing to do. In John 13:14, Jesus tells His disciples, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” Another time, in Matthew 11:25, Jesus thanked The Father for what He had done. The teaching is that Jesus does what is right and holy and expects His followers to do the same. Giving thanks in both word and deed for what God has done is one important way we demonstrate our love and obedience to the Lord.
Because He is the sacrifice for sins and our peace with God, we are to offer our thanks through our mediator and Christ. Colossians 3:17, “And everything, whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.”
The Hebrew writer also remembers the true meaning of the Peace Offering as he writes about the sacrifice of our words and deeds and ties praise and thanks together in Hebrews 13:15-16. “Therefore by Him (Christ) let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”
Paul, in writing to the Romans reminds them of what they have obtained in Christ, Romans 6:22 “But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.” Being a bondservant (slave) of God, we have things the world cannot give. The degree of thanks which should be expressed for the extraordinary gift of salvation is also without equal, our very being, all that we do, and all that we say.
To apply this to our lives today, let us remember the words of Paul in Romans 12:1-2, “…present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” And again in Colossians 3:17, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
