Give thanks to the Lord

We are back to the beginning in a way.  David starts his instructions telling us to Give Thanks to the Lord.  He doesn’t guide us to name our blessings one by one.  That is a good thing to do but it is not what Thanksgiving is about.  Our leper in yesterday’s study didn’t just say and I am thankful for no longer having leprosy.  No he ran to Jesus telling everyone on the way, praising God until he reached Jesus and threw himself at Jesus feet thanking Him.  That is Thanksgiving.

Many people spend the month of November listing those things they are thankful for in their lives.  I do it. It focuses you to look at all you have in life.  But it is not thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving focuses you on the giver of all those blessings and how he has blessed your life.  Thanksgiving must be specific just like the counting all you blessings, but it requires that you meditate on what God has done in your life.

A Christian logically might start with salvation.  Every human lives in sin, a sin we can not possibly wash away by ourselves.  A human, like me or like you, can not bridge the gap between mortals and God.  But God provided a perfect sacrifice to cover those sins. A simple solution, and because of the simplicity of that solution, an answer many reject for its simplicity.

But Jesus seeks us.  He sought me.  At eleven, I had never really thought about God.  My mom sometimes took me to church, but it wasn’t a major part of my life.  Then suddenly, and without much explanation, it seemed people invited me to church and Christian activities constantly.  I decline the invites for the most part, but accepted one.

Invitation started at church that day and I knew God wanted me to follow Him.  But, there was no way I was going to the front of the church.  Or at least I didn’t think I would.  I remember thinking I will follow you and then I was standing at the pastors side.  I believe God carried me those few feet to the front of the Church.  The “yes I want to follow you” was enough for my Lord to intervene and help me.

Now this Thanksgiving I list my Salvation as one of my many Blessings.  But I think God he sought me when I had no idea I needed Him.  My heart sings out of love for a Lord “Who sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood.”  My Lord came to earth and took on human form in order to live a perfect life and be a perfect passover lamb to cover my sings.  But my Lord also loved me enough to send tons of messengers each calling me to Him.  Many of them will never know their impact on my life.  Those who I said no to and the one I said yes to were all sent by God to seek me and to draw me close to Him

I so love my Lord for bringing me to know Him.  And I know that a God who sought me with that level of concern is not going to ever leave me.  I am His and He is mine.

Thank you Jesus for Loving me.

Exercise

Take one of your many blessings and write a Thank You Note to Jesus.  Instead of counting your blessings try writing Thank you notes to God for those things where you know He has acted in your life.  You might won’t to find a big bowl to throw your Thank you notes in.  It will be a monument to God for all He has done in your life.

Play list song (I have two for this one)

Victory In Jesus        Travis Cottrell Jesus Saves (Live) Christian & Gospel

Praise God From whom all blessings come