The Bible says:
“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
— Ephesians 5: 20
The first Thanksgiving in America was held by the Pilgrims of the Plymouth Colony in the autumn of 1621 in celebration of the first harvest. They held another Thanksgiving in 1623 in celebration of relief from a long drought and the arrival of a ship from England carrying much needed supplies.
In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as Thanksgiving Day.
Though we live in the day when more and more people feel they’re entitled to so many things — and fewer and fewer are thankful for what they receive — it doesn’t change the fact we should all be very thankful for we really do not deserve or merit any of God’s blessings.
In the Old Testament giving “thank-offerings” was part of Israel’s worship of God. (Leviticus 7: 12; 22: 29; 2 Chronicles 29: 31; 33: 16; Psalm 116: 17; Jericho 33: 11) If the Old Testament saints had much to be thankful for the New Testament saints had more. (Ephesians 5: 20; Philippians 4: 6; Colossians 3: 17; 1 Thessalonians 5: 18; 1 Timothy 4: 4) Thankfulness should be expressed for food, (John 6: 11, 23) for wisdom, (Daniel 2: 23) God’s goodness and mercy (1 Chronicles 16: 34), for converts, (1 Thessalonians 1: 2) prayers answered, (John 11: 41) victory, (1 Corinthians 15: 57) salvation, (2 Corinthians 9: 15) the Lord’s Supper, (1 Corinthians 11: 24) and changed lives (1 Thessalonians 2: 13).
Our thankfulness is a spiritual sacrifice, (Psalm 116: 17; Hebrews 13: 15) our duty, (2 Thessalonians 2: 13) should be unceasing, (Ephesians 1: 16) spontaneous, (Philippians 1: 3)
in Christ’s name, (Ephesians 5: 20) is God’s will, (1 Thessalonians 5: 18) and is Heaven’s theme. (Revelations 7: 12).
Thankfulness is not something that comes naturally to us sinners. Hopefully we were taught by our parents to be grateful and how to give thanks and thank God for all His gifts.
A thankful person is a happy person for thankfulness precedes happiness. Happiness is the sweet fragrance of a grateful heart. If you want to be happy, then try being thankful.
“The notion of’ ‘gratitude’ in modern English thanks arose out of an earlier ‘thoughtfulness.’ For the word which also produced English think, and the noun thank originally meant “thought.’” So if you find yourself void of any gratitude, go somewhere and think awhile about all you have and you’ll discover you have much to be thankful for.
James H. Cagle is a Ray City resident who pastored several churches for a total of 11 years. Email him at [email protected]
