Christian Thankfulness

The moment we turn the calendar page to November, Thanksgiving comes to mind. We think about the day, the events, the traditions and the food. The holiday that we commemorate on the 4^th Thursday in November should be a reflection of the daily disposition of the heart of the believer. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Romans 1:21 describes one of the characteristics of the wicked as unthankful. 2 Timothy 3:2 says that the perilous last days will be characterized by unthankful people. Psalm 92:1 says that it is good, appropriate, to give thanks to the Lord. Christians must be the most thankful of people, but thanks is “given.” It is a decision to render thankfulness to the great Source of our blessings.
Because of this, God commands us to give thanks. Psalm 100 describes Him as our overwhelmingly majestic Creator. Verse 4 says that we are to enter His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. Our worship, corporate and private, should be an endeavor saturated with thankfulness. Why? Verse 5 says that He is good, eternally merciful, and trustworthy. Psalm 107:21-22 says, “Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! Let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare His works with rejoicing.” Thanksgiving is the essence of true worship. It is a sacrifice in that it embraces God’s provision, not merely of our physical needs, but ultimately of our need for a Savior. Thankfulness recognizes that our needs have been met by another. This is infinitely true in the rich provision of Jesus Christ in the gospel.
A believer’s spirit of true thankfulness demonstrates the depth of his walk with God. Colossians 2:6-7 describes the walk of Christian maturity as “established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.” Colossians 3:12-17 says that this disposition will be evident in our unity among other believers in the church. Thankfulness banishes pride and where pride is absent, believers thrive in the unity of Christian love. The path of Christian joy and fulness is paved with thankfulness.