Thank God

If you want to grow in your knowledge of the Father, read Paul and Jesus' various prayers of thanksgivings. We only thank people when they did actually did something. So, whenever we read "I thank God that...", we know that God actually did... otherwise, there would be no need for thanksgiving. Right?

With that said, check out this little jewel in 1 Thessalonians 2:13, "And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers." Notice what Paul says God did---God made them accept the gospel (cp. 2:5, 8, 9; 1:5), the word of God, as the word of God! 

Most people think God offers the word of God but we are the ones who finally decide to accept it or not. But when you actually read the Bible, notice what it says. This is yet another example of sovereign grace! May we constantly thank God for the grace he gave us to accept the gospel at all. We contributed nothing to salvation but our sin!!