Give Thanks

The Bible reminds us as Christians, we are to be thankful people. The Psalmist says, “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” (Psalm 106:1) And in Psalm 100:4, we are told to “Enter into His gates with Thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.”

One of the questions we often hear at this time of year is, “What are you thankful for?” Some time ago I determined to jot down at least three things daily for which I am thankful.

My list grew quickly: (Life, New Life in Christ, my family, (Penny, Josh, Jessie, Jordy, and my family in the Upstate, my home, my car, my doggies, my church, fellow believers (could name each of you personally) my health, food I eat, the water I drink, turkey and dressing, giblet dressing, cranberry sauce, potato salad, greed beans, sweet potato and pecan pie, and on and on!!

If that seems too long of a list for you try cutting it back to just two each day or even just one thing for which you are thankful each day. You’re still obeying the Scriptures admonition to “Give thanks.”

Certainly, there are many blessings for which we have to be thankful.

For example, we are to be thankful for:

Material Blessings, 1 Timothy 4:3-5, foods which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. 4For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;

Many of us are thankful the food, football and family time we enjoy together on Thanksgiving Day!

The Goodness and Mercy of God, Psalm 106:1, Praise the Lord! Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. (This verse is also repeated in Psalms 107, 118 (2x) and Psalm 136.)

Two of the most beautiful characteristics of God is His mercy and His goodness.

We know that God is good all the time and that all the time God is good. And the word mercy is one of the most wonderful words in the ancient Hebrew language. It is God’s hesed, His tender loving mercy, His loving kindness.

Aren’t you thankful this Thanksgiving for God goodness and mercy?

Victory over Death and the Grave, 1 Corinthians 15:57, But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Triumph of the Gospel, 2 Corinthians 2:14, Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.

The Conversion of Others, Romans 6:17 Thank God! Once you were slaves of sin, but now you have obeyed with all your heart the new teaching God has given you.

All People, 1 Timothy 2:1 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God’s mercy upon them, and give thanks.

All Things, Ephesians 5:20 And you will always give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

CONCLUSION

So, like Paul, we should be thankful always, not just at Thanksgiving. Thankful for so many different things, but thankful certainly for Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.

And finally, I’m thankful for the privilege to serve Him in this glorious calling to preach the Gospel and serve as your pastor here at Northgate Baptist Church. I am thankful.

Related Media

Related Sermons