Thanksgiving - 2024

Two Little Words: A doctor wrote a letter of thanks to a schoolteacher for having given him so much encouragement when he had been in her class 30 years before. He later received this reply: “I want you to know what your note meant to me. I am an old lady in my eighties, living alone in a small room, cooking my own meals, lonely, and seeming like the last leaf on the tree. You will be interested to know that I taught school for 50 years, and yours is the first letter of appreciation I have ever received. It came on a cold, blue morning and cheered my lonely old heart as nothing has cheered me in many years.”

Romans 1:18–32 (NIV84)

18The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,

19since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.

20For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

21For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.

22Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools

23and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

24Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.

25They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

26Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones.

27In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

28Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.

29They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips,

30slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents;

31they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

32Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

These Scriptures describe the downward spiral of man. Look at verse 21. This downward spiral started when men neither glorified God nor gave thanks to Him, even though they knew God!

How did they know God? Look at verses 19 and 20.

“Since what may be know about God is plain to them.

Why? Because God has made it plain to them.

How? Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities, which are His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen.

How? Being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

There are no true atheists. There are people who claim to be atheists, because they do not want to be held accountable to God and his holiness, which require that they be holy in their thoughts and actions.

Luke 17:11–19 (NIV84)

11Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee.

12As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance

13and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”

14When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.

15One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.

16He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.

17Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine?

18Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”

19Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.” (your faith has saved you, lsb)

All ten, no doubt, were grateful, but only one expressed that gratitude to God.

The nine were cleansed; the one foreigner was also made whole.

Cleansed = καθαρίζω katharizō = to be or become healed of a disease that renders one ceremonially unclean; conceived of as being washed or cleansed.

Has made well = σῴζω sōzō = has several meanings that include:

to save, i.e., deliver or protect;

to make healthy from an illness;

to heal, conceived of rescuing or delivering person from imprisonment or other afflictions.

His faith has saved him—not merely cured him of his bodily sickness, but saved him in the fullest sense of the word, because he really believes in [Jesus] and has entered into a personal relation with Him.

The phrase made you well is not translated katharizō (“cleansed”) from verse 14, or the word iaomai (“healed”) from verse 15.

It is sōzō, the New Testament term for being saved from sin

By coming to Jesus, the man received something greater than physical healing: he was also saved from his sins.

Jesus said, “Your faith has saved you” (literal translation), the same words He spoke to the repentant woman who anointed His feet (Luke 7:50).

The Samaritan’s nine friends were declared clean by the priest, but he was declared saved by the Son of God!

While it is wonderful to experience the miracle of physical healing, it is even more wonderful to experience the miracle of eternal salvation.

Deuteronomy 8:10–20 (NIV84)

10When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.

11Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day.

12Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down,

13and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied,

14then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

15He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock.

16He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you.

17You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.”

18But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.

19If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed.

20Like the nations the Lord destroyed before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the Lord your God.

The very blessing and abundance of the land can lull its inhabitants into a sense of complacency and self-sufficiency. The people needed to remember that their fullness was from the hand of God just as the manna of the desert had been.

When we remember the Lord our God as the source of all our blessings, we remain humble.

Trouble, distress, sickness, and on the opposite end of the spectrum, prosperity, can cause us to forget God.

Forgetting God often leads us to becoming ungrateful towards Him.

Ephesians 5:3–7, 15-20 (NIV84)

3But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.

4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

5For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.

7Therefore do not be partners with them.

15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,

16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

18Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

19Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,

20always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

There was a Puritan who met his son, each one of them traveling some ten or twelve miles to meet the other. The son said to his father, “Father, I am thankful to God for a very remarkable providence that I have had on my journey here. My horse has stumbled three times with me, and yet I am unhurt.”

The Puritan replied, “My dear son, I have to thank God for an equally remarkable providence on my way to you, for my horse did not once stumble all the way.”

If we happen to be in an accident by railway, we feel so grateful that our limbs are not broken. But should we not be thankful when there is no accident? Is not that the better thing of the two? If you were to fall into poverty, and someone were to restore you to your former position in trade, you would be very grateful. Should you not be grateful that you have not fallen into poverty? Bless God for his unknown benefits. Extol him for favors that you do not see, always giving thanks to God for all things.

For everything? Are we to give thanks for murder and abuse, for cruelty and hate? No.

We cannot speak with God’s Spirit and at the same time praise him for what he hates.

There is a context for this thanksgiving. It is to be “in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 5:20b). We are filled with the Spirit when we praise God for everything that hallows and magnifies the name of our Savior.

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 (Legacy Standard Bible)

16Rejoice always;

17pray without ceasing;

18in everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

We are to express our thanks and appreciation to God for all things and in all things, when they go well and when they go bad.

We often give it no thought that we woke up safe in our homes, that we arrived at church safely, that we even have a church to attend.

We can easily take it for granted that our daily lives go on without interruptions or tragedy.

Rejoice always. Rejoicing is not dependent on circumstances. Rejoicing is based on the fact

that we are in Christ,

that Christ is in us,

that we are saved,

that we are forgiven,

accepted by God, and

receive present and future blessings from God.

Pray without ceasing. Unceasing prayer doesn’t mean we wander through the day chanting like monks.

Praying without ceasing means we don’t give up in prayer.

We turn to our Lord in prayer not as our last alternative when all else fails, but as our first line of defense.

When worries and fears attack, we pray.

When pain and suffering intrude, we pray.

Whether we think we know just what to do or have no idea what to do, we pray.

Give thanks in everything. The two previous commands deal with one’s time; giving thanks in everything deals with one’s circumstances.

Christians are to give thanks to God in every circumstance of life. The fact that God works everything together for good for those who love Him is the basis for this entreaty.

Romans 8:28 (AMP)

28 We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.

Verses 16–18 are not just good advice; they are God’s will for every Christian.

It’s not all of God’s will, but they are an important part of it.

Corrie ten Boom in The Hiding Place relates an incident that taught her always to be thankful.

She and her sister, Betsy, had just been transferred to the worst German prison camp they had ever seen. It was at Ravensbruck. On entering the barracks, they found them extremely overcrowded and flea-infested.

That morning, their Scripture reading in 1 Thessalonians had reminded them to rejoice always, pray constantly, and give thanks in all circumstances. Betsy told Corrie to stop and thank the Lord for every detail of their new living quarters. Corrie at first flatly refused to give thanks for the fleas, but Betsy persisted, and Corrie finally succumbed to her pleadings.

During the months spent at that camp, they were surprised to find how openly they could hold Bible study and prayer meetings without interference from the guards. It was not until several months later that they learned the reason the guards would not enter the barracks. It was because of the fleas.

Beloved, we may not see it at first, but God may use our discomfort as a source of blessing to us.

The Blessings of Gratefulness:

It will help you to not become bitter at bad things that happen.

It will encourage the people that you thank.

It will keep your heart tender towards the Lord as you count the blessings you have received from Him.

It will help you to recognize God’s care and control over your life, even though you may be facing trials.

Philippians 2:14–16 (NIV84)

14Do everything without complaining or arguing,

(Amplified) without grumbling and faultfinding and complaining

(KJV) murmurings and disputings.

15so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe

16as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing.

Complaining (grumbling, murmuring) = γογγυσμός gongysmos = utterance made in a low tone of voice, behind-the-scenes talk; complaint, displeasure, expressed in murmuring.

a complaint uttered in a low and indistinct tone.

Arguing (disputings) = διαλογισμός dialogismos = verbal exchange that takes place when conflicting ideas are expressed, dispute, argument.

Debate: a discussion in which reasons are advanced for and against some proposition or proposal.

One who grumbles, finds fault in others; one who complains is not thankful.

Murmuring (complaining) is an outward expression of deep inward discontent and rejection of one’s lot.

Murmuring describes the low, threatening, behind-the-back, discontented muttering of a mob who distrusts their leaders and is on the verge of an uprising.

Colossians 2:6–7 (NIV84)

6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him,

7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

Thankfulness = εὑχαριστία eucharistia = the quality of being grateful, with implication of appropriate attitude, thankfulness, gratitude.

Eucharist is used in modern language for Holy Communion, embodying the highest act of thanksgiving for the greatest gift received from God, the sacrifice of Jesus. It is the grateful acknowledgement of past mercies.

The object of our thankfulness should be first and foremost on our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 13:15–16 (NASB95)

15Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.

Hebrews 13:15 (AMP)

15 Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.

16And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.

Confess (give thanks) = ὁμολογέω homologeō = to acknowledge something ordinarily in public, acknowledge, claim, profess, praise.

to acknowledge in honor of someone, meaning to give thanks, to praise.

The sacrifice of praise is the verbalization of one’s faith.

John Calvin: Every blessing that God confers upon us perishes through our carelessness, if we are not prompt and active in rendering thanks.

Psalm 107:1, 8-9, 15-16, 21-22, 31, 43 (NIV84)

All these verses include: “Give thanks to the Lord.”

43Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the Lord.

Contentment and Thankfulness: Mark Tidd of Webster, New York, describes an experience from his college days:

An old man showed up at the back door of the house we were renting. Opening the door a few inches, we saw his eyes were glassy and his furrowed face glistened with silver stubble. He clutched a wicker basket holding a few unappealing vegetables. He bid us good morning and offered his produce for sale. We were uneasy enough that we made a quick purchase to alleviate both our pity and our fear.

To our chagrin, he returned the next week, introducing himself as Mr. Roth, the man who lived in the shack down the road. As our fears subsided, we got close enough to realize it wasn’t alcohol but cataracts that marbleized his eyes. On subsequent visits, he would shuffle in, wearing two mismatched right shoes, and pull out a harmonica. With glazed eyes set on a future glory, he’d puff out old gospel tunes between conversations about vegetables and religion.

On one visit, he exclaimed, “The Lord is so good! I came out of my shack this morning and found a bag full of shoes and clothing on my porch.”

“That’s wonderful, Mr. Roth!” we said. “We’re happy for you.”

“You know what’s even more wonderful?” he asked. “Just yesterday I met some people that could really use them.”

Colossians 3:17 (NIV84)

17And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Everything we say, and everything we do should be done as a representative of the Lord Jesus, bringing honor and glory to Him in every aspect and activity of daily living.

Let us be quick to show our thankfulness to God in our everyday routines.

Psalm 19:14 (NIV84)

14May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Selah.

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