Romans chapter one tells us that the wrath of God is being revealed against all people who supress the truth of God by their unrighteousness (v.18).  Apart from the work of Christ wrought in our hearts, this describes all of us.  Paul goes on to tell us that although God, through creation, has revealed his eternal power and divine nature to all of us - none of us responded to this revelation as we should have.  We are “without excuse.” (v.20)  How were we supposed to respond to what God revealed to us about himself?  What did we not do that we were supposed to do?

“[We] did not honor him as God or give him thanks, but [we] became futile in [our thinking, and [our] foolish hearts were darkened.” (v.21)

The rest of the book of Romans describes how God restores a people to himself.  A people that like the rest of mankind would otherwise be with dark hearts, futile thoughts and under the wrath of God.  God restores this people through justification by faith in Christ.  We find, in Romans, that God not only justifies these people, but also progressively sanctifies them, and eventually glorifies them with his son.  He takes away the wrath, the ultimate consequence of sin, the power of sin, and he restores them.  He makes them to be a people that respond rightly to what is revealed to them.  Their affections are in tune with the beauty of God.  They look at God and His creative majesty, and they honor God as God… and they are thankful!  Being thankful is part of the restoration process.  One of the primary charges rightly brought against us, and a reason for the wrath of God being poured out on all mankind, is that we were not thankful.  God is restoring His people to a place of thankfulness.

The redeemed know what this means.  We know what it means to be thankful to God beyond what the most crafted words can express or the most beautiful voice sing.  God, we are so thankful.  Blessed be your name!