Thankful From The Inside Out

By Andrea Lucado

What have your words been like this week? Have you been complaining to your family and friends? Have you been kind? Have you been harsh?

Scripture says that our words indicate the state of our heart: “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Matt. 12:34). Jesus says this when condemning a group of Pharisees for doubting his power to heal by the Holy Spirit. They questioned his authority, and in turn, Jesus questioned their hearts.

Reading this passage in light of our series on gratitude, I realized that I have to first have gratitude in my heart before I can speak words of gratitude. Before I can give thanks, I must feel thankful. Do I? My words would indicate no. My words this week have been critical and nitpicky. I walk into a room and comment on how messy it is. I go to dinner and comment on the poor service. I go to church and I tell a friend I don’t like the song we sang during worship.

A truly grateful heart would simply be grateful for a home, a meal and the body of Christ to worship with each Sunday. Instead, my words have reflected a heart that could use a little more gratitude.

Gratitude is not only good for our own hearts; it’s good for our Christian witness. Right before Matthew 12:34, Jesus said, “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit” (Matt. 12:33). We are recognized by our fruit, and in this context, our fruit is our words.

If Christians are walking around criticizing others and never expressing gratitude, what does that tell the unbeliever? Does it make them want to know more about our faith, or does it make them want to stay away from it?

The metaphor of a tree bearing fruit is used throughout scripture, emphasizing the importance God puts on our hearts. He doesn’t simply want us to recite words of gratitude. He wants us to feel grateful. And until we feel grateful, gratitude will not come from our hearts.

In 2 Corinthians, Paul tells us the real source of our gratitude: “All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God” (2 Cor. 4:15). Grace causes thanksgiving and it glorifies God, so when our hearts are set on grace, we are grateful, and when we are grateful, God is glorified.

Gratitude can transform us from the inside out, and a lack of gratitude can do the same. What type of fruit do you want to bear? What is truly in your heart? May we seek to not only speak words of gratitude during this season, but may we also seek to be truly grateful.

If you’re interested in learning more about what it means to be a Christ follower and to bear good fruit, we encourage you to explore our study Introduction to the Christian Life.