Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, For His lovingkindness is everlasting. Psalm 107:1
The Americans on the 23rd of November have celebrated what has become for them ‘Thanksgiving Day. This first began in 1621 when the Plymouth colonists shared an autumn harvest feast with indigenous Indians.
Since then, every year, this has become a national holiday in the USA where families get together and share in a thanksgiving meal.
Tonight we are going to copycat the American scene. We will have turkey & pumpkin pie plus a host of other American thanksgiving recipes on the menu. It will be fun! You need to be here!
But the real point I want to make is - what are we thankful about?
As believers in Jesus Christ we have everything to be thankful. There should be no end to our expressions of gratitude to the Lord. As believers we should be marked by an attitude of gratitude!
If this is not the case something is seriously wrong with our spiritual state before God. We need to examine our hearts and see if we are indeed “in Christ” at all.
Karl Graustein said in his book ‘Practice of Godliness’ “Thankfulness flows out of a heart that is rooted in Christ. If Christ is the Lord of our lives, we will live in Him, be built up in Him, and be strengthened in Him. Ultimately we will find ourselves overflowing with thankfulness to Him for all that He has done on our behalf.”
After all we as believers have been given every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies (nothing more to have) in Christ Jesus (Eph. 1:3). We have been given everything we need for “life and godliness” (2Pet. 1:3) so if anyone on this earth needs be forever thankful - its us!
As a child needs be taught to say “thank you,” we too as God’s children, dare not ignore the knowledge of God’s abundant blessings. After all, we are totally dependent upon Him for all that we are and have, as everything comes from God. Give thanks!