A Complete Thanksgiving
As we approach our annual time of Thanksgiving, I have to wonder if we give proper thanks to our Father in heaven. Please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying you are ungrateful for the blessings that God grants you. But I have to wonder if we really cover all the bases when we give thanks.
All too often, I think we focus on the material blessings we receive. We almost always ask for them, that’s for sure. A nice house, good food, pretty clothes, these are all common requests to God. Many times we ask for healing, continued good health, protection and the like. Also common blessings we ask of God.
There are physical blessings in abundance. So much so that I must marvel at them from day to day. I believe I have mentioned this in a past sermon, but I’d like to talk about it again. It is something that is probably so over looked, it deserves the recognition.
I think a washing machine is one of the most amazing inventions man has ever made. Think about it. You put some dirty clothes in the machine, add some soap, turn it on and leave. When you return, they’re clean! And a dryer is not far behind. You put the wet clothes in the dryer, set it, turn it on and leave. When you come back, the clothes are dry!
Now you might be wondering what all the hubbub is about a washing machine. After all, it’s nothing all that special, right? Consider that a washing machine is a sign of affluence and wealth. How many people around the world are stooping by a river flowing with filthy water, beating their clothes on a rock or with a club, at this very moment to try to clean them? Little more than 100 year ago, an average washing machine was a tube you filled with hot water in which you added some lye soap, put your clothes in and plunged for the next hour. That’s right, YOU were the agitator! Imagine doing 10 loads of clothes that way. It was a step up from kneeling by a river, but not by much.
This is why I am so fascinated by the technology that God has inspired us to create. The twist of a dial gives us near instant heat in the winter and the push of a button cools us in the summer. Turn a knob and you have clean water. Pick up a phone and have medical assistance within minutes or a conversation with someone on the other side of the planet. What a remarkable nation of blessings that God has provided for us to we live in.
But lest you think this sermon is only about the physical, let me ask the following. What about our spiritual blessings? When was the last time we thanked our Lord for dying on a cross for us so we could live? How about Him forgiving our sins? Is this something we have remembered to thank God for or have we just fallen into a complacent attitude about it?
Rom 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Another way of saying this is that while we were still God’s enemies, He sent His greatest blessing upon us, His son Jesus Christ, without precondition. That’s some pretty heady stuff! Have we remembered to thank God for this greatest of gifts? Perhaps now would be a good time to consider it.
Have we ever thought about thanking God for the spiritual blessings He has granted? Let’s take a look in Acts 2. Peter has just finished telling the Jews that the Jesus they crucified was and is indeed, the Messiah.
Acts 2:37-38, “When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit…””
Did you see it? The Holy Spirit is a gift, not a right. God has given us the gift of His Holy Spirit living within us. Think about that. God Almighty, creator of all, has chosen to live within YOU! He can do whatever He chooses. After all, who could tell God no?! And what He chooses is to live within you!
We can’t even begin to imagine what glorious surroundings He has created for Himself in heaven. And yet, He CHOOSES to live within you. Makes you feel pretty special, doesn’t it? I know as I think about this, it sure makes me feel both special and so unworthy. Who am I that God would want anything to do with me, let alone live within me? But God’s view of me is not my view. It is not that you are so worthy, it is that He loves you that much. So have we thanked God for choosing us?
Gal 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.”
Now you might be wondering what I’m talking about. Perhaps you don’t feel these fruits, i.e. gifts, in your everyday life. Do they only come alive in church? Maybe not even then, for some.
The fruits of the Spirit come from our relationship with God. The closer we come to Him, the more we walk the path Jesus trod, the more evident the fruits become. It is rather like learning to read. The more you do it, the easier it gets. But if you don’t take the time to read, you begin to lose the ability.
This is very much like the fruits we are talking about. If you don’t use them, if you don’t spend time in prayer, if you don’t desire to come closer to Jesus, these fruits won’t develop well. Ever grow a garden? What happens if you neglect it? Weeds grow up to choke plants out. Lack of plant food means lack of growth. The plants are still there, but hidden in the undergrowth, stunted and weak. You might end up with a tomato the size of a quarter. And when we tend to the garden as we should? Maybe you’ll grow tomatoes the size of softballs!
Likewise with the fruits of the Spirit. The more we tend to our Christian walk, the more these fruits develop. The more evident they become, the more people will notice. Normally, I don’t tell people I’m a pastor unless they ask. I have had people ask me out of the blue if I was a pastor. Not because of how I look, but because of how I interact and respond to people. In other words, because of how I display the fruits of the Spirit. And I probably only use a fraction of what the Holy Spirit has given me.
These same fruits are available to everybody. You don’t even have to ask, just surrender. Has it ever occurred to us to thank God for these particular gifts? I have to say, it doesn’t occur to me nearly enough, considering Who we are talking about and how much He has done for me.
That’s right, I’m no better than you or anyone else. If you think that’s false modesty, think again. Patience is one of the fruits. You might think I have an abundance of it. If you do, you obviously have never seen me shopping in a supermarket! I falter the same as everyone else, but I thank God for the Blood of Christ, that I may be forgiven for my failures.
Rom 12:6-8, “We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”
These are some of the gifts listed in the bible. These are supernatural gifts which are greater than natural talents. They are bestowed upon the believer by the Holy Spirit to accomplish God’s work.
Now you might feel God hasn’t given you any of these gifts. Maybe not, but this is far from an exhaustive list. Perhaps you have a gift of music or maybe a gift of works to do the behind the scenes things that need doing. The point is that God gives each and every one of us gifts to do His work here on Earth whether you realize it or not. And they don’t necessarily need to be used only within the church!
If a coworker comes to you with family problems, do you feel for that person? That would be the gift of empathy. Do you try to console them? A gift of compassion. Prior to being a Christian, would you have just passed things off? Kind of a that’s the way the cookie crumbs attitude? Now you want to help alleviate pain. That is evidence of growth in Christ. Have we thanked God for our Spiritual gifts?
My whole point is not to condemn anyone for not living up to my expectations. Lord knows I’m just a guilty as anyone else. What I’m looking to do is challenge all of us to take stock of our lives and to really dig deep into the areas we may just take for granted.
This time of year seems to be especially appropriate to take on this quest for soul searching. Thanksgiving for so many, has become nothing more than a day of parades, gluttony, football and shopping.
And yet the very name, Thanksgiving, must evoke more if we really take the time to stop and think. To give thanks to God, not just for the obvious day to day physical things that tend to gain our attention, but for the eternal blessings and gifts that God provides.
God’s inbox is always full of requests for blessings, but I suspect his thank you box is woefully less so. Considering God held nothing back from us by sending Jesus, His own Son, to take His wrath up Himself in order to reclaim us, shouldn’t we at least consider thanking Him for all He has given us rather than just some of what He has given?
Let us make an extra effort at this special time of year, to take stock of our position in life in relationship to God and in the blessings and gifts He has bestowed upon us. And let us then give our Heavenly Father a heartfelt thank you.
And may we do so not only in November, but each and every day. He gave us His best. May we give Him ours.
In His name…
© 2008 Church of Hope, Inc.
As we approach our annual time of Thanksgiving, I have to wonder if we give proper thanks to our Father in heaven. Please don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying you are ungrateful for the blessings that God grants you. But I have to wonder if we really cover all the bases when we give thanks.
All too often, I think we focus on the material blessings we receive. We almost always ask for them, that’s for sure. A nice house, good food, pretty clothes, these are all common requests to God. Many times we ask for healing, continued good health, protection and the like. Also common blessings we ask of God.
There are physical blessings in abundance. So much so that I must marvel at them from day to day. I believe I have mentioned this in a past sermon, but I’d like to talk about it again. It is something that is probably so over looked, it deserves the recognition.
I think a washing machine is one of the most amazing inventions man has ever made. Think about it. You put some dirty clothes in the machine, add some soap, turn it on and leave. When you return, they’re clean! And a dryer is not far behind. You put the wet clothes in the dryer, set it, turn it on and leave. When you come back, the clothes are dry!
Now you might be wondering what all the hubbub is about a washing machine. After all, it’s nothing all that special, right? Consider that a washing machine is a sign of affluence and wealth. How many people around the world are stooping by a river flowing with filthy water, beating their clothes on a rock or with a club, at this very moment to try to clean them? Little more than 100 year ago, an average washing machine was a tube you filled with hot water in which you added some lye soap, put your clothes in and plunged for the next hour. That’s right, YOU were the agitator! Imagine doing 10 loads of clothes that way. It was a step up from kneeling by a river, but not by much.
This is why I am so fascinated by the technology that God has inspired us to create. The twist of a dial gives us near instant heat in the winter and the push of a button cools us in the summer. Turn a knob and you have clean water. Pick up a phone and have medical assistance within minutes or a conversation with someone on the other side of the planet. What a remarkable nation of blessings that God has provided for us to we live in.
But lest you think this sermon is only about the physical, let me ask the following. What about our spiritual blessings? When was the last time we thanked our Lord for dying on a cross for us so we could live? How about Him forgiving our sins? Is this something we have remembered to thank God for or have we just fallen into a complacent attitude about it?
Rom 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Another way of saying this is that while we were still God’s enemies, He sent His greatest blessing upon us, His son Jesus Christ, without precondition. That’s some pretty heady stuff! Have we remembered to thank God for this greatest of gifts? Perhaps now would be a good time to consider it.
Have we ever thought about thanking God for the spiritual blessings He has granted? Let’s take a look in Acts 2. Peter has just finished telling the Jews that the Jesus they crucified was and is indeed, the Messiah.
Acts 2:37-38, “When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit…””
Did you see it? The Holy Spirit is a gift, not a right. God has given us the gift of His Holy Spirit living within us. Think about that. God Almighty, creator of all, has chosen to live within YOU! He can do whatever He chooses. After all, who could tell God no?! And what He chooses is to live within you!
We can’t even begin to imagine what glorious surroundings He has created for Himself in heaven. And yet, He CHOOSES to live within you. Makes you feel pretty special, doesn’t it? I know as I think about this, it sure makes me feel both special and so unworthy. Who am I that God would want anything to do with me, let alone live within me? But God’s view of me is not my view. It is not that you are so worthy, it is that He loves you that much. So have we thanked God for choosing us?
Gal 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things, there is no law.”
Now you might be wondering what I’m talking about. Perhaps you don’t feel these fruits, i.e. gifts, in your everyday life. Do they only come alive in church? Maybe not even then, for some.
The fruits of the Spirit come from our relationship with God. The closer we come to Him, the more we walk the path Jesus trod, the more evident the fruits become. It is rather like learning to read. The more you do it, the easier it gets. But if you don’t take the time to read, you begin to lose the ability.
This is very much like the fruits we are talking about. If you don’t use them, if you don’t spend time in prayer, if you don’t desire to come closer to Jesus, these fruits won’t develop well. Ever grow a garden? What happens if you neglect it? Weeds grow up to choke plants out. Lack of plant food means lack of growth. The plants are still there, but hidden in the undergrowth, stunted and weak. You might end up with a tomato the size of a quarter. And when we tend to the garden as we should? Maybe you’ll grow tomatoes the size of softballs!
Likewise with the fruits of the Spirit. The more we tend to our Christian walk, the more these fruits develop. The more evident they become, the more people will notice. Normally, I don’t tell people I’m a pastor unless they ask. I have had people ask me out of the blue if I was a pastor. Not because of how I look, but because of how I interact and respond to people. In other words, because of how I display the fruits of the Spirit. And I probably only use a fraction of what the Holy Spirit has given me.
These same fruits are available to everybody. You don’t even have to ask, just surrender. Has it ever occurred to us to thank God for these particular gifts? I have to say, it doesn’t occur to me nearly enough, considering Who we are talking about and how much He has done for me.
That’s right, I’m no better than you or anyone else. If you think that’s false modesty, think again. Patience is one of the fruits. You might think I have an abundance of it. If you do, you obviously have never seen me shopping in a supermarket! I falter the same as everyone else, but I thank God for the Blood of Christ, that I may be forgiven for my failures.
Rom 12:6-8, “We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”
These are some of the gifts listed in the bible. These are supernatural gifts which are greater than natural talents. They are bestowed upon the believer by the Holy Spirit to accomplish God’s work.
Now you might feel God hasn’t given you any of these gifts. Maybe not, but this is far from an exhaustive list. Perhaps you have a gift of music or maybe a gift of works to do the behind the scenes things that need doing. The point is that God gives each and every one of us gifts to do His work here on Earth whether you realize it or not. And they don’t necessarily need to be used only within the church!
If a coworker comes to you with family problems, do you feel for that person? That would be the gift of empathy. Do you try to console them? A gift of compassion. Prior to being a Christian, would you have just passed things off? Kind of a that’s the way the cookie crumbs attitude? Now you want to help alleviate pain. That is evidence of growth in Christ. Have we thanked God for our Spiritual gifts?
My whole point is not to condemn anyone for not living up to my expectations. Lord knows I’m just a guilty as anyone else. What I’m looking to do is challenge all of us to take stock of our lives and to really dig deep into the areas we may just take for granted.
This time of year seems to be especially appropriate to take on this quest for soul searching. Thanksgiving for so many, has become nothing more than a day of parades, gluttony, football and shopping.
And yet the very name, Thanksgiving, must evoke more if we really take the time to stop and think. To give thanks to God, not just for the obvious day to day physical things that tend to gain our attention, but for the eternal blessings and gifts that God provides.
God’s inbox is always full of requests for blessings, but I suspect his thank you box is woefully less so. Considering God held nothing back from us by sending Jesus, His own Son, to take His wrath up Himself in order to reclaim us, shouldn’t we at least consider thanking Him for all He has given us rather than just some of what He has given?
Let us make an extra effort at this special time of year, to take stock of our position in life in relationship to God and in the blessings and gifts He has bestowed upon us. And let us then give our Heavenly Father a heartfelt thank you.
And may we do so not only in November, but each and every day. He gave us His best. May we give Him ours.
In His name…
© 2008 Church of Hope, Inc.