’Tis the season, for a heightened sense of thankfulness. The Bible is replete with directives that men should live thankful lives (Psalm 100:4; 105:1; 106:1; 107:1; Romans 1:21). It is to large measure, a characteristic of “our day,” that people are all together unthankful. Many today live with the “Burger King” philosophy, “Have it your way.” This has taken our society by storm, and now, there is no other perceived way than the way any one individual sees a certain thing, and to not have it that way can cause catastrophic social backlash. People become rude, hateful, disparaging, or worse, physical, when they don’t get their way. They are wholly unthankful for all the good that is present in their lives. May that never be said of a Christian.
Children of God have so much to be thankful for. If every child of God would dwell on the blessings of life, they wouldn’t have so much to curse about life. Jesus came to give men an abundant life in Him (John 10:10). But some are so caught up on the one or two losses in life, they have blinded themselves to the abundance they have access to in Jesus. Away with the child of God who goes through life looking like they are sucking on a lemon. Away with the redeemed of the Lord who regard their suffering as unbearable, and fail to “say so” (Psalm 107:2). Away with the attitude of the ungrateful wretch that no one would follow into a Bible study or worship service. Away with the weak, hopeless, anemic soul that said “yes” to Jesus, but lives their life as a rotten fruit, barely hanging onto the vine. That kind of fruit will cause rot and disease to the rest. Away with the pitiful outlook on life as if no one has ever had it as bad, and if there was only one kind of luck, it is bad luck. Away with that! Christ calls us to victory, and thankfulness.
This writer desires to call to your attention a list of reasons for Gods people to rejoice as the season of “Thanksgiving” is celebrated.
Remission of sins (Acts 2:38).
A mansion in heaven (John 14:1-3).
Peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7).
Joy unspeakable (I Peter 1:8).
Divine love that never fails (I Corinthians 13:8; John 3:16).
Faithful examples (Matthew 5:13-16).
Devoted children (Exodus 20:12).
True, loyal friends (Proverbs 18:24).
Songs in the night (Psalms 42:8).
A crown of life (James 1:12; II Timothy 4:8).
All my needs met (Philippians 4:19; Psalm 37:25).
Riches that cannot be taxed nor taken (Matthew 6:19-20).
If you, as a redeemed child, cannot find gratitude in the above, then you will certainly be unhappy below. God calls His people to look upward and outward (Colossians 3:1-4; John 4:35; Philippians 2:4). To the Corinthian church, Paul would remind, “For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh in us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
“Keep the main thing the main thing.” This is valuable advice given to anyone attempting to be successful in any area of life. The same is true spiritually. Keep your mind on Jesus (Hebrews 12: 2-3). Keep your focus on eternity (Hebrews 12:1). Run with patience the race, but add peace and thankfulness (Colossians 3:15). It will make all the difference in your life and in the lives of others.
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