Are You Thankful To God?

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another is psalms and hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father” (Eph. 5:18-20).

Hey gang, Have you ever thanked God for the miracles and blessings that He freely gives to you, even if you are not even aware?  In my travels I picked up the following story that I especially like:

It seems a person died and, soon after arriving in heaven, in his orientation he was scheduled for a tour of heaven. The guide was very clear in explaining what each building was and many housed neat things that God had provided for His children; but the guide avoided one long building that set off by itself.  Several times the new-arrive-e asked what was in that building, but the guide ignored him.  Finally, at the end of the tour, the guide asked for questions and, of course, the new arrive-e once again asked, “What is in that building?”

Within the building were long lines of shelving, ground to roof, covered with paper bags tied with ribbons.  When asked what they were for, the guide said, “Each person has a bag here that has, within it, the blessings God wanted to give the recipients but they choose not to accept.  

We are getting close to that day designated as “Thanksgiving Day.  It is my sincere opinion that designating a day called Thanksgiving is, in reality, designed for those who are non- believers.   Why do I say that?  Because Paul teaches us “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” I Thess. 5:18.

Example.  Several years ago, I was pulling my recreation vehicle home from a weekend in the woods. We were on a back road and I was doing around fifty miles an hour when a car pulled out of a driveway, about five hundred feet in front of us. 

Corrective action preventing my hitting the car, but shortly after the driver slammed on the breaks and began to make a left turn off the roadway.  There was no way in the world I was going to keep from plowing into that car but somehow, I do not have a clue how, I missed the car.   I have thought about that incident each time I drive by that spot and thank God for what He did that day.

Have you ever taken the time to sit down and make a listing of the times God blessed you with a very special blessing?  Have you ever considered the times He may have saved your life and you knew nothing about it?  Are you one who tends to use the phrase “Boy that was a lucky break?”

If “…the will of God in Christ Jesus is to give thanks to God in everything” every believer should give thanks and be grateful at all times.  Gratitude is a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation of everything that Almighty God is doing in our daily life. 

So, young colleagues, may I suggest that, sometime in the leisure of your Thanksgiving celebration, take your Bible and concordance and do a word study on thanksgiving and gratitude.  You will find many such references in both Old and New Covenants - for it is God’s will. 

Have you recently turned down any of God’s blessings that He designed especially for you?

Blessings,

Gramps