I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

— Ephesians 4:1

I live in the country of Burkina Faso. In Sabou, a village west of the capital, Ouagadougou, the crocodiles are considered sacred. No one in the village kills them, and the crocodiles never attack the villagers. This relationship is so reliable that tourists can take pictures sitting on the crocodiles of Sabou without risk of injury.

A traditional story explains this relationship between the villagers and the crocodiles. It is said that a crocodile once saved the life of the village ancestor. In gratitude, this man ordered his descendants never to harm the crocodile, and this tradition is still alive. In other words, the man was so filled with gratitude for his life that he committed to honor and protect the crocodile.

Throughout this month we will focus on the theme of gratitude as we reflect on passages in the book of Ephesians. In chapters 1-3 the apostle Paul shows how we were dead in our sins and how God—in his mercy—has given us new life in Christ by pure grace. Then in chapter 4, Paul urges us to respond with gratitude to this good news.

How can we show appreciation for the gift of new life that God has made possible for us? And, like the village ancestor, how can we show our children and others around us how to live in gratitude?

Gracious God, we thank you for the great gift of salvation in Jesus Christ. Thank you for showing us mercy and grace. Help us to live thankfully and to share this good news with our families, neighbors, friends, and others everywhere. Amen.