I Thank My God for You!

It was almost 31 years ago (1992 to be exact) that Christian psychologist, Gary Chapman, popularized the concept that each of us have internal “emotional tanks” that need to be filled by love from others. He championed the observation, however, that we all have different “ love languages,” or ways of conveying or receiving love from others. Though these “languages” are not necessarily spelled out in scripture, they are empirically valid for most of us through our own experiences. Dr. Chapman identified five love languages and suggested that most of us have a primary one and a secondary one. You might remember them:

1) Love is expressed by spending quality time.

2) Love is expressed by giving gifts.

3) Love is expressed by meaningful touch.

4) Love is expressed by doing acts of service.

5) Love is expressed by sharing words of affirmation.

One very clear expression of Biblical love is the love language of words of affirmation. I can confidently say that this language is solidly Biblical through example and exhortation in the Pauline epistles. I am sure you have experienced that great relationships are built on actions, attitudes, and words of gratitude.

This is Biblical—The Example of the Apostle Paul

The vast majority of Paul’s letters to the churches spread across Asia minor start with his words of affirmation for the believers receiving the letter. His recurring salutation was, “I thank my God for you!” In this he was careful to direct the believer’s sense of value and worth through the Lord, but, at the same time, he was affirming them with his words of gratitude. Here are some examples:

Romans 1:8 “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the whole world.

Ephesians 1:16 “I do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers.”

Philippians 1:3 “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you...”

Colossians 1:3 “We give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.”

I Thessalonians 1:2 “We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers.”

1 Thessalonians 3:9 “For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account.”

Even the Corinthian church that needed strong rebuke for their celebration of sinful behavior received Paul’s words of affirmation:

1 Corinthians 1:4 “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus”

This is Biblical-The Exhortation of Scripture

Paul’s example is very instructive, but he does not just give us his example to follow. No, guided by the Holy Spirit, Paul writes God’s will concerning speaking this “love language:”

2 Thessalonians 1:3 “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater.”

1 Timothy 2:1 “First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men

As I have walked down the hallways of our campus building at Alaska Bible College and eavesdropped outside classroom doors, I have with joy, listened to our students discuss God’s Word. I have also been so encouraged as I have interacted with our staff and students in Chapel times and casual moments. As a result I am all the more committed to do what Paul exhorted and exampled. I thank my God for you! Without the friends of the college praying and generously giving, the eternal transformation of our students into becoming servants who lead with Christ-like character would not be possible. I thank my God for you! Without staff and faculty that deeply desire to be servants who lead with Christ-like character as they seek to engrain a biblical worldview in our students’ minds and hearts in and outside the classroom, Alaska Bible College would not be the God-honoring school that I believe ABC is! I thank my God for you!

As I have lived for the last nine years here in the MatSu Valley and have experienced the goodness and kindness of the residents and businesses here, I thank my God for you!

May we all be challenged to thank our God for those He has placed in our lives. They are gracious gifts from the Lord that need our words of affirmation for His glory and their encouragement.

Dr. David Ley is the President of Alaska Bible College.