“Be Thankful to Him” Psa. 100:4 ~Bill Brandstatter, preacher Marion, IL Church of Christ~
Thanksgiving means a lot of turkey for a lot of folks. There is too much of an emphasis on the material and not the spiritual. This Thanksgiving our emphasis should be on the spiritual aspects of Thanksgiving, not so much the physical. I am thankful for all the physical possessions that I have, but what would happen if I lost them all? (Job 1:14,15) If it were not for God, I would have nothing. (Acts 17:28) Is there anything you are so thankful for that you would shout about it? The Psalmist did. I am thankful for what God gives and has given me. This seems to be the point of this Psalm. In spite of the fact that Israelites were provided for by God; nonetheless, they were not grateful, but complained. (Numbers 20:1-13) Ps. 107:1 says: “O, give thanks unto the Lord.” Today, as members of the church, the Israel of God, we should be very thankful. (Gal. 6:16) I am thankful for what God can do for me in the future. Psa. 100:5 God’s Word condemns the sin of ingratitude. To be like Christ we must be thankful. He offered hanks for food in Luke 24:30. At the tomb of Lazarus, Jesus said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.” (John 11:41) This is the whole point of this Psalm…thanksgiving. (vs 4) I am thankful for Who God is. Psa. 100:2, 3 Webster says: “Forgetfulness of or poor return for kindness received: ungratefulness.” Nine of ten lepers whom Jesus healed did not return “to give glory to God.” (Luke 17:11-19) Paul stated that some would be unthankful. (2 Tim 3:1,2) Lack of proper training has caused ingratitude, leading some to mistakenly believe that the world owes them a living. (Gen. 3:19; 2 Thess. 3:10) I am thankful for who we are. “We are his people and the sheep of His pasture” (Psa. 100:3b) God has a people who are His. (Heb. 8:10) I am grateful for being a child of God. John writes, “What manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God.” (1 Jn. 3:1) I am grateful for the privilege and honor of being a member of the church for which Christ died and purchased with his own blood. (Acts 20:28) I am thankful for being a part of the family of God (Eph. 3:15). What about you?
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Who Do You Thank ~Ronald Bartanen, preacher Arthur,IL Church of Christ~
“In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thess 5:18) “
We ought to make an effort to act on our first thoughts, and let our unspoken gratitude find expression. Then there will be more sunshine in the world, and more power to work for what is good.” (Albert Schweitzer) While our nation pauses this week to celebrate a day of thanksgiving, we realize there are many who would say they are thankful for a number of things, such as their homes, their jobs, their health, and especially their families, but they don’t know who to thank. Thankfulness should be expressed by thanksgiving. Someone once observed, “Pity the poor atheist. He may feel thankful in his heart for his good fortunes, but he has no one to thank.” Sad to say, there are also many who would not consider themselves to be atheists, but would fail to recognize the real source of all blessings—God. They are much like the birds and squirrels who frequent our patio in search of seeds or crumbs which we have put at their disposal. They have come to expect to find something to fill their needs, but most likely have no understanding as to the source of such provisions. When we lose sight of the One “from Whom all blessings flow,” we seek to live our lives independent of Him. When that happens, all spins out of control. It is as Paul expressed it in Romans 1:21: “Because, though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became vain in their thoughts and their foolish hearts were darkened.” In the verses that followed he described the darkness of idolatry and sexual debauchery. The heart that realizes no dependence upon God is a heart that will take His blessings for granted and express no thankfulness toward the Creator and Sustainer of life. When we put God out of our lives as a nation, the observance of Thanksgiving Day becomes no more than Turkey Day, a day for indulging ourselves. God would have us to partake of His bountiful supply, and to truly celebrate Thanksgiving with true thanksgiving to God from our hearts. May we heed Paul’s admonition: “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
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