Thankful

November 20, 2011

“Be glad in the Lord, you righteous ones, and give thanks to His holy name” (Psalm 97:12). “Sing praise to the Lord, you His godly ones, and give thanks to His holy name” (Psalm 30:4)

This coming Thursday is a national day of Thanksgiving, a day started by the first colonists of our country. Whether it was the Pilgrims in Massachusetts or the colonists in Virginia who had the first Thanksgiving, it was a time of thankfulness to God. In 1863, by presidential proclamation, it was made an annual national celebration.

God has always provided for His people. During the wilderness wandering, God gave the Israelites manna. Were they thankful? No, they grumbled and complained. In our times, many people take things for granted and do not offer thanks for what they have. Thanksgiving has primarily become a day of feasting to celebrate our abundance. Thanksgiving has become just a time off from work or school.

We have many examples of people being thankful in the Bible. In Luke 17:11-19 we have the account of the ten lepers that Jesus healed. Jesus told the ten to go and show themselves to the priest in response to their appeal for help. On the way they were healed. One turned back, “and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him” (Luke 17:16a). This leper was so grateful that he had to stop and glorify God and thank Jesus. We need to stop and thank our Father for our blessings and not take His blessings for granted.

An important attitude needed to truly be thankful is to be content with our circumstances. Paul spoke of being content in Philippians 4:12-13, “I know how to get along with humble means, and I know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Paul had a thankful heart for being in Christ. Because of this, Paul could rejoice and be thankful no matter what circumstance he was in.

Another thing that we are to be thankful for is the gift of God’s only begotten Son. “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift” (II Corinthians 9:15).

Because of the sacrifice and death of Jesus on the cross, we are free from the wraith of God (Romans 5:6-9). It is incomprehensible to know that God gave His Son so that we can be freed from our sins, and this was done while we were sinners and His enemies. How can anyone not have a thankful heart knowing and accepting what God has done for him?

Regarding a special day for thanksgiving, we should always be thankful. In Ephesians 5:20 Paul encourages us to have a thankful attitude, “Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.”

We need to be glad because Christ makes us righteous and give thanks to our Father. We need to sing praises to the Lord and give thanks because through Christ we are godly.

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Almighty God, awesome Creator, Lord of all, we praise and glorify You. We offer our continual thanks to You for Your grace freely given through the sacrifice and blood of Jesus. We thank You for adopting us into Your family and for allowing us to call You Father. We offer our thanks, Father, for all that we have, thanks for Your always being with us, thanks for eternal life. We offer thanks in the name of our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus. Amen. ~ Ed

Ed Wittlif ~ Denver, Colorado (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Ed Wittlif, former preacher of Albert Lea Church of Christ in Albert Lea, Minnesota, is a University Church of Chirst member.

University Church of Christ

Thankful