Thankfulness

Thankfulness

I hope everyone has a safe, happy, and blessed Thanksgiving. I also hope that Thanksgiving is not just an excuse to eat a lot of good food and watch some football or the only time of year we remember to have a degree of gratitude. It is easy to take things for granted some times. I know I am guilty of that at times. So, with those things in mind, here are a couple of quick thoughts about thankfulness.

There is a story from the life and ministry of the Lord Jesus that is recorded in Luke 17:11-19, where he healed 10 lepers. Jesus sent them to the priests to be declared cleansed from the leprosy in order to fulfill the Law of the Lord (Leviticus 14:2). Of the ten lepers who were healed, only one, who happened to be a Samaritan instead of a Jew, returned to see Jesus. When he came back to Jesus, he “with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks.” Jesus responded to his response by saying, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”

Here is the practical thought for us. In the way we live our day to day lives, are we more like the nine or the one Samaritan who returned to thank Jesus and glorify God? How often do we thank God for our blessings? Thanksgiving is an expression of faith (Luke 17:19). Thankfulness demonstrates dependence upon God. It shows that we believe He is the source of our blessings instead of ourselves. Thankfulness is giving glory to God instead of ourselves.

Let me leave you with a few Scriptures to consider at Thanksgiving this year. James 1:17 says, “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.” Ephesians 1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with ever spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Psalm 95:2 says, “Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms.”