It is almost Thanksgiving and I have not sent out an email devotional in a while. I told myself that I would do this weekly but have stumbled all over doing that. But I am going to try to get back to doing something weekly. Some guys write every day, which I suppose I could do but - we'll just stick with weekly. Enough rambling.
Thanksgiving brings to mind so many things. It is a time for families to get together, to watch football, to spend time with people we may not see on a regular basis. It should be a time for reflection, for thinking about the many things we have to be thankful for. In thinking about this, I thought we would take a look at a few things that the Bible tells us we should be thankful for. So here we go.
1. Be thankful to God for Who He is. 1 Chronicles 16:7-36 is David's song of praise. In this song of thanksgiving he mentions God's greatness, wonderful deeds, His strength, the wonders God has performed, His miracles, His justice, His keeping of His promises, to name just a few. At times I forget to spend time thanking God for Who He is. It is His character and attributes that make God Who He is and we need to thank Him for our salvation, our changed lives, the way He cares for us, etc. Spend time reflecting on the attributes of God.
2. Be thankful for those who have brought joy to our lives. In 1 Thessalonians 3:9-10Paul wrote that he was "thankful" for the believers at Thessalonica. They had been a blessing to him, and we all have people in our lives - family and friends, for example, who are just a joy to be around. They are people we can have fun with, who encourage us, challenge us, and accept us, weaknesses and all. Spend time being thankful for the people in our lives who bring joy to us, and begin with our families.
3. Be thankful for your church if you have one. In Colossians 1:3, Paul writes that he always was praying for the Colossian believers, and giving thanks to God for them. Churches are made up of people, some that are challenges to us, others who are a delight. Since no church is perfect, it is easy to get in the mode of criticizing the leadership and people within a church. We need to seek ways to be a help and encouragement, to strengthen the church and to help it become stronger and more Christ like. Be part of the solution. We can do that by being thankful for the good things that are going on, for the people that make up our local churches, for those we know who are Christians. There are all kinds of people in all kinds of churches. Practice being thankful for our church whichever one we attend that teaches the Word of God.
4. Be thankful for answered prayer. We have mentioned being thankful to God for Who He is. 2 Corinthians 1:11 mentions being thankful for answered prayer. I have at times taken for granted that God has heard my prayers and responded and answered them. We need to be thankful when He does hear us, and even if we don't think He does. God answers prayers - yes, no, not now. No matter what, take time to thank Him for listening to our prayers and for answering them in His way and according to His will.
5. Be thankful for God's provisions. In some countries of the world people are suffering greatly. I take for granted what I have here in America. We need to thank God for meeting our needs. Many of us have a roof over our head, food on the table, jobs, or at least the ability to work if we are currently looking for a job. Jesus said to pursue God's Kingdom and God would meet our needs (Matthew 6:33). We need to stop and thank God for what He has allowed us to have. That includes the opportunity to earn a living, even if it is not the "best" or "favorite" job.
May you all have a blessed thanksgiving! God bless.
In Christ,
Pastor Scott
Thanksgiving brings to mind so many things. It is a time for families to get together, to watch football, to spend time with people we may not see on a regular basis. It should be a time for reflection, for thinking about the many things we have to be thankful for. In thinking about this, I thought we would take a look at a few things that the Bible tells us we should be thankful for. So here we go.
1. Be thankful to God for Who He is. 1 Chronicles 16:7-36 is David's song of praise. In this song of thanksgiving he mentions God's greatness, wonderful deeds, His strength, the wonders God has performed, His miracles, His justice, His keeping of His promises, to name just a few. At times I forget to spend time thanking God for Who He is. It is His character and attributes that make God Who He is and we need to thank Him for our salvation, our changed lives, the way He cares for us, etc. Spend time reflecting on the attributes of God.
2. Be thankful for those who have brought joy to our lives. In 1 Thessalonians 3:9-10Paul wrote that he was "thankful" for the believers at Thessalonica. They had been a blessing to him, and we all have people in our lives - family and friends, for example, who are just a joy to be around. They are people we can have fun with, who encourage us, challenge us, and accept us, weaknesses and all. Spend time being thankful for the people in our lives who bring joy to us, and begin with our families.
3. Be thankful for your church if you have one. In Colossians 1:3, Paul writes that he always was praying for the Colossian believers, and giving thanks to God for them. Churches are made up of people, some that are challenges to us, others who are a delight. Since no church is perfect, it is easy to get in the mode of criticizing the leadership and people within a church. We need to seek ways to be a help and encouragement, to strengthen the church and to help it become stronger and more Christ like. Be part of the solution. We can do that by being thankful for the good things that are going on, for the people that make up our local churches, for those we know who are Christians. There are all kinds of people in all kinds of churches. Practice being thankful for our church whichever one we attend that teaches the Word of God.
4. Be thankful for answered prayer. We have mentioned being thankful to God for Who He is. 2 Corinthians 1:11 mentions being thankful for answered prayer. I have at times taken for granted that God has heard my prayers and responded and answered them. We need to be thankful when He does hear us, and even if we don't think He does. God answers prayers - yes, no, not now. No matter what, take time to thank Him for listening to our prayers and for answering them in His way and according to His will.
5. Be thankful for God's provisions. In some countries of the world people are suffering greatly. I take for granted what I have here in America. We need to thank God for meeting our needs. Many of us have a roof over our head, food on the table, jobs, or at least the ability to work if we are currently looking for a job. Jesus said to pursue God's Kingdom and God would meet our needs (Matthew 6:33). We need to stop and thank God for what He has allowed us to have. That includes the opportunity to earn a living, even if it is not the "best" or "favorite" job.
May you all have a blessed thanksgiving! God bless.
In Christ,
Pastor Scott
