“Be Thankful”

David Eldridge

On Thursday, November 24th, this country will celebrate a national day of thanksgiving. However, those of us that are Christians should make every day we are here on this earth a day of giving thanks to the Lord. Paul instructed the church at Thessalonica that they should, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thess. 5:18). Consider how we, as children of God, should give thanks to God for His…

Works — God, by His mighty hand, has done many wondrous works and for this we should be thankful. Without exception, every blessing we enjoy and good thing we see is the result of a work of God. David wrote, “That I may proclaim with the voice of thanksgiving , And tell of all Your wondrous works” (Ps. 26:7). It would do us well to spend time meditating in the works of God that we might offer Him appropriate thanksgiving. The psalmist says in Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” All creation cries out the glory of the works of God (Ps. 19:1). Take time, ponder His majestic works, realize His power, and glorify Him by the giving of thanks.

Providence — Give thanks to God for providing for us. In Deuteronomy 8:10, the Children of Israel were told, “When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you.” They were to thank God for the good way in which He had provided for them. We should bless His name in thanksgiving for the same reason. James notes that, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning” (Jas. 1:17). Every good thing we have in this life, from our food and our housing to our spouses and our brethren, has been provided for us by the mighty hand of God. Let us count our many blessings, remember from whence they came, and offer thanksgiving to God for all the good we enjoy.

Truth —Colossians 2:7 states that we should be “rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abound in it with thanksgiving.” We should be thankful for the truth revealed to us in God’s word (Jn. 17:17). True life is found in the truth, for in the truth alone are we are set at liberty from sin and sanctified unto God (cf. Jn. 14:6; Jn. 8:32). Were it not for the truth of God revealed in His word, we would be adrift in this life with no hope at its end. Let us always give generous thanks to God for His wonderful truth that He has given unto us.

Plan — We should be grateful unto God for the plan of salvation he has given us. Paul penned, “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful” (Col. 3:15). The plan by which we have been called into the body of Christ is truly something for which we should be thankful. This is the same plan which was announced on the day of Pentecost almost 2,000 years ago that men hearing of the Christ should believe, repent, confess and be baptized having their sins washed away (Ac. 2:36-38). The result of this plan? God adds to the body (church) those who are saved. Perhaps the best summary of this concept is given by Paul when, in 2 Corinthians 9:15, he wrote, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” Amen!

Promise of Heaven — As Christians, we have the promise of eternal life, and in this promise we should give thanks. To the church at Colosse it is stated, “Giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light” (Col. 1:12). Had God not given us even one other blessing to enjoy than this one, we would still have every reason to walk about with continual praise on our lips to our Father. The fact that “this mortal must put on immortality” to one beautiful day be ushered into Heaven by God is one that should inspire praise in our hearts (cf. 1 Cor. 15:53-57). What an amazing gift! What an awe-inspiring God! May we ever have a heart filled with praise for His “exceedingly great and precious promises” (2 Pet. 1:4).

Perhaps the greatest things about thanksgiving to the Lord is that, for the child of God, it will never end. As John gives us a peek through the gates of Heaven, he reveals that Heavenly creatures cry out “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen” (Rev. 7:12). So, we who are faithful shall one day be gathered around the throne of God singing anthems of thanksgiving to Him throughout eternity.