Mediating on Items of Thanksgiving

Mediating on Items of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a day in the American calendar -- but it is also the mind & mood toward which every Christian should strive to live -- everyday of their lives! Our spirit of thanksgiving -- or gratitude -- must not be limited to -- or simply crammed into -- a single day! For the Christian the giving of thanks should be constant -- heartfelt -- joyous -- & filled with genuine praise to God.

Long before the American holiday of Thanksgiving was ever imagined -- the Apostle Paul wrote the words found in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 -- “In everything give thanks!” The Scriptures constantly emphasize the importance of grounding our faith in thanksgiving & praise.

Let’s look into the Bible this morning -- & listen carefully to the Word of God to our hearts.

I Thessalonians 5:16-18.

“Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing.”

I have come to the understanding that to “pray without ceasing” -- means to live in an attitude of prayer -- wherein prayer becomes the natural expression of our hearts.

There are times that the most significant prayer we can offer is simply -- “Oh, God!”

God understands the very sigh & moan of the heart!

Verse 18 speaks clearly of the Grace of Gratitude! “In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

That word “everything” takes in a lot of territory! “Everything” is a mighty big word!

Paul is saying -- “Be joyful always; pray continually; -- give thanks in all circumstances -- for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thess. 5:16-18 NIV).

The mass of people can be divided into two classes: -- those who take things for granted; -- & those who take things with gratitude! When the grace of gratitude is absent from our hearts -- the sin of ingratitude enters in.

But to have a grateful heart in every circumstance is not easy -- for life is filled with disappointments -- reverses -- hardships -- heartaches -- & perplexities.

As I was studying this verse in preparation for today’s message -- I saw something new, to me at least. That little preposition “in” -- stood out to me in a new light. We are told to be thankful “in everything” -- not “for everything.” -- The expression “In everything” is not the same as “for everything.”

I cannot thank God for sickness & pain -- for I believe His purpose is health & wholeness.

But I can learn to thank God in times of sickness & pain.

Our attitude as Christians can be one of thanksgiving & praise in all that comes to us.

Those who rightly emphasize the importance of praise -- sometimes get carried away -- & claim that we should thank God for everything -- even the hurtful, as well as for the good.

To give thanks “in everything” does not mean that we are forbidden to express painful feelings. -- No, no, no! It is not the will of God that we give thanks for whatever happens -- like a crippling accident -- terminal cancer -- the death of a child -- believing that those things are God’s will.

What is the will of God -- is that in the midst of every thing that happens to us -- we should learn to give thanks. God permits some things He does not purpose -- & He allows some things He does not intend.

It is the continuous giving of thanks that is God’s will for us.

It is God’s will that we should always praise Him -- & do so in all circumstances!

Remaining grateful when our lives are touched by evil is only possible because -- as Christians -- we are “in Christ.” This means we now live in a new spiritual realm -- that we have new life “in Christ” -- & that we are therefore the object of God’s special care. At the edge of despair -- God extends His sustaining hand -- & He reassures us that we can always lean upon Him for renewed strength & courage.

An unthankful & complaining spirit is cause for almost continual unhappiness -- but more so -- it is an abiding sin against God Almighty. Well, let’s shift gears a little & get into the heart of what I wish to share with you today.

Someone has said: -- “Gratitude is one of the celestial plants which grow only in the soil of meditation.” So let’s take the time this morning to truly meditate on items of thanksgiving.

Oh, how prone we are to soon forget the good that life brings our way! -- Therefore, we need to meditate on at least three great blessings!

1. First -- Let’s Thank God for Temporal Blessing!

We pray -- as Jesus taught us -- “Give us this day our daily bread” -- but then we fail to praise Him for such temporal blessings. So take the time to thank God -- for the food we eat -- for the clothes we wear -- for the house in which we live -- the roof over our heads -- & for whatever health we enjoy.

Earthly goods; -- the ordinary things of life; -- don’t take them for granted!

Paul Barnes -- wrote a cute letter to “Dear Abby” -- some years ago. Paul wrote: -- “When I was in law school I shared an apartment with three other graduate students who -- like me -- held part-time jobs & had little time, money, cooking ability or interest in preparing meals. Each of us got his own breakfast & we took turns preparing dinner -- which usually consisted of canned vegetable, hamburger meat, a baked potato or the like -- & was barely edible.”

Paul reportedly lost 25 pounds going through law school. But -- no matter how poor the meal was -- his roommate “Joe” invariably said, “That was a mighty fine dinner!”

One evening, when the meal Paul had prepared was even worse than usual -- & Joe had nevertheless complimented Paul -- Paul asked, “Joe, you know that food was hardly fit for human consumption. -- Why do you always say it’s good?”

Joe answered: -- “I come from a family of 11 children. My mother would spend all afternoon in the kitchen preparing the evening meal. -- Then, one night when she called us to the table, there was only a plate at each place with a pile of hay on it. -- My father looked at it & asked her, ‘Jessie, what is this hay doing on our plates?’ “Mother said, ‘Oh, you noticed! -- This is the first time any of you have ever given any indication that you know what was on your plate!”

Joe added: -- “I vowed then & there that I would always express my appreciation to the person who had prepared my meal.” (Universal Press Syndicate, Nov. 21, 1996).

That my friends, is a beautiful reminder that we should all take a moment to express gratitude for the things we so often take for granted.

Some people are constantly complaining; -- always looking on the dark side of life & events; -- always expecting things to go wrong; -- always feeling they deserve better.

But we here in America -- are so much better off than so much of the world!

That does not mean we are superior; -- it means we are blessed!

Don’t grumble because you don’t have what you want; -- be thankful you don’t get what you deserve!

A wealthy woman told her doctor that she was frustrated by a restless desire for more & more things.

He replied: -- “Those are the usual symptoms of too much ease in the home -- & too little gratitude in the heart.”

It is not what you have in your pocket that makes you thankful -- but what you have in your heart!

So turn the searchlight of self-scrutiny within & ask: -- “How grateful am I for all my temporal blessings?”

A moving portrayal of gratitude is found in Borghild Dahl’s book, I Wanted to See. After 50 years of almost total blindness -- this woman of magnificent courage began to see again following an operation at the Mayo Clinic in 1943. It was like stepping into a new world.

Even dishwashing -- that typically humdrum chore -- became a source of sheer delight.

Almost in total bliss -- she wrote: -- “I begin to play with the white fluffy suds in the dishpan. -- I dip my hands into them & I pick up a ball of tiny soap bubbles. -- I hold them up against the light -- & in each of them I can see the brilliant colors of a miniature rainbow.”

Three times a day washing dishes -- & all those opportunities to play with soap bubbles -- made her so exuberant that she ended her book on this triumphant note: -- “Father in heaven, I thank Thee, I thank Thee.”

2. Secondly, Let’s Thank God for Spiritual Blessings!

A person may be poor in temporal things -- yet truly rich in spiritual things!

God -- through His Holy Spirit -- has awakened you to the sense of your sinfulness; -- He has brought you to the knowledge of your need to be saved; -- He has shown you His provision through Jesus Christ. By putting your faith in Jesus -- & upon the confession of your sins -- you now have experienced the joy of sins forgiven!

You no longer live under the guilt & condemnation of sin.

You no longer are a slave to the destructive force of sin.

You are now a child of God having been adopted into the very family of God.

You know Jesus as your Savior -- Friend -- Guide -- Counselor -- as the Prince of Peace.

And that is only the beginning!

You have the enjoyment of many spiritual privileges: --

you can feed on the Bread of Life which came down from Heaven;

you can drink sweet waters from the wellspring of salvation.;

you can read the blessed teachings of God’s Holy Word;

you can worship in the house of God in the company with those you love;

you can hear the message of the glorious gospel preached;

you can gather together for united prayer;

you can talk to God any where & at any time;

you can sit in heavenly places in Christ Jesus;

you can enjoy constant fellowship with God, your Heavenly Father!

This does not mean that we are to live in spiritual pride! I remember the Pharisee -- who thanked God -- (at least he said he did; -- I doubt if he really felt any thankfulness at all) -- that he was better than other men.

My friends -- if you are really a Christian -- then you know that all the good in you is of God.

We thank God for every privilege we enjoy. We deserve no credit for that which is the gift of God to us.

The true Christian rejoices over what the Lord has made us -- without forgetting that we owe it all to Him -- for “by grace I am what I am.”

A policeman saw him standing there -- on the sidewalk in Chicago -- just staring at a building -- with his lips moving. Thinking he might be some drunk -- or intoxicated -- the policeman approached him -- to ask him to move on.

But when the man turned to look at the policeman -- he was suddenly recognized as being none other than the famous baseball player -- who had found Christ -- & had become the fiery evangelist, Billy Sunday. When asked what he was doing -- Billy Sunday said: -- “This is the building in which I found Christ as my Lord & Savior. -- I never go by here without taking the time to stop for a moment -- & thank God for what He has done in my life.”

Are you thanking God today for your spiritual blessings?

3. Thirdly, Let’s Thank God for Eternal Blessings!

The temporal is only for the few short years of a life time; -- the spiritual is for time & eternity!

For the Christian -- Eternity is a Glorious Hope! Oh -- how blessed is that hope!

They who have entered the straight gate -- & walked the narrow way through the troubles & trials of earth -- shall pass through the pearly gates -- & shall tread the golden streets of the New Jerusalem!

They who have groaned in sickness & sighed in sorrow; -- they who have languished in pain -- & borne the agony of death -- shall pass into that blest abode where “sickness & sorrow -- pain & death are felt & feared no more.”

If you look into the closing chapters of the Book of The Revelation -- you find a soul-inspiring description! The description are those of a glorious city -- the river & the tree of life -- of robes of white -- & harps of gold -- & the chorus of redeemed saints.

I do not know what all these mean -- but I know what they are intended to mean!

All that is glorious & gladdening & bright & beautiful awaits the people of God!

And still the Bible tells us that “eye has not seen, nor ear heard what God has prepared!”

My dear friend -- read it for yourself -- humbly & thankfully -- & allow your heart to swell with devout rejoicing -- for “good hope through grace” -- the hope of immortality & eternal life -- the hope of heaven -- the hope of glory.

Conclusion: Yes, my dear friends -- in this Thanksgiving season -- & throughout the year -- let’s meditate upon & thank God for our temporal & spiritual & eternal blessings!

Those who thank God -- even in their trials -- turn burdens into blessings!

A person who recognizes his/her blessings -- who is constantly praising the Lord -- cannot indulge in fault finding -- mean attitudes -- & unkind words!

A young girl -- who was a deaf-mute -- was asked one day by her teacher -- to define gratitude.

Many of us -- if handicapped as she was -- would have found it difficult to give any definition.

This was her answer: -- “Gratitude is the memory of the heart.”

Recently I read about a woman named Marjorie. One morning she awoke -- totally unable to leave her bed -- due to her long battle with arthritis. By a strange coincidence it was on Thanksgiving Day.

In the beginning -- in her continuing battle with arthritis -- she suffered with anxiety & depression -- but then in the Book of Psalms -- she began to discover a new wellspring of courage & cheerfulness.

In her own words -- she began to feel “thankfulness for replenished courage & joy -- & for the many remaining loveliness of life.”

My friends -- such benefits -- such joy -- such privileges are yours & mine as well!

Meditate upon -- how much our Heavenly Father has given you of the temporal things of life; -- upon how much spiritual enjoyment is ours through Jesus Christ our Lord; -- & upon how much the Lord of Glory has prepared for us in our Eternal home.

Had I a thousand tongues to sing,

The half could ne’er be told

Of love so rich, so full & free,

Of blessings manifold;

Of grace that faileth never,

Peace flowing as a river

From God, the glorious Giver.

To Him give thanks!

-- Lelia N. Morris, 1906

Pastor Lyle W. Pettit -- Wynne Chapel -- Cochise, AZ