(I want to apologize for getting this up late. Thanksgiving week was a short week, and it simply slipped my mind. The next few posts will cover the last two days. If you have time, you might read through two in one day.)
What are some truths you learned from last Sunday’s message? How can it make a difference this week?
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For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
Jesus is called by many names. His names evoke a certain character or quality about Him that the prophets foresaw. My prayer this week is that you will begin to see a little more of what the prophets saw, that now in hindsight, you can begin to experience even more! –Pastor Mike
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Look over your notes from the past week. What one or two things did God impress upon you this week?
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Read Hebrews 12:25-29.
Today’s passage expresses an attitude of thanks alongside an attitude of reverent worship before an all-consuming fire in God. Looking at this passage, why are we told to give thanks (v. 28)?
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How does knowing this future truth help us have an attitude of thankfulness now?
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Our future is on solid ground, and it cannot be shaken. The kingdom even now present in spiritual form cannot be shaken. When I think about times when I am not thankful (i.e. grumbling and complaining), it is usually centered on a temporary matter, a matter that has shaken me up. I get so caught up in the situation that I forget it probably won’t matter in eternity. Temporary inconvenience needs to always be viewed from the eternal. We will enter an unshakable kingdom, and what shakes us today will be overrun by the unshakable.
How can the promise of an unshakable future give us an attitude of thankfulness? The phrase translated “let us be thankful” (NIV) is literally “let us have grace” in the Greek. Interestingly, the phrase “giving grace” before a meal carries this same attitude of thanksgiving. In matters of difficulty, it is always good to “give grace” not only for meals, but also in hardship. If we were to stop and “give grace” throughout the day, keeping in mind the secure nature of our future, I wonder how often it might repair a grumbling spirit?
To consider: The NAS translation of verse 28 says, “let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.” Being thankful is seen here as the attitude by which we offer to God acceptable worship. A life of worship is a life of thankfulness. Scripture is bursting with that message. It is not surprising so many of these devotions come back to thankfulness. Be thankful today. Be thankful on all occasions and when you are, your life will be one of acceptable worship to God.
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Read 2 Corinthians 9:12-15.
Of all the things that thanks is given for in the New Testament, it is most often given for fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. In nearly every letter written by the apostle Paul, he gives thanks to God for the recipients. Some of the reasons he is thankful include:
Did you notice the common theme in most of the passages of thanks for the love of the saints? Whether it was Paul’s personal love for his spiritual son, Timothy, or the love for all the saints, love is central to thanksgiving. And obviously our thanks to God for His love through Jesus Christ emphasizes this idea. When people show love to one another, our reaction should be to give thanks to God. Love is central to thanksgiving.
To consider: With today being Thanksgiving day, many of you will celebrate with family and friends. You will be with loved ones for the better part of the day. Before you meet, take a few moments (or more!) to consider the acts of love that people around you have shared. Thank God for these people – in praise to God and in words to those whom you are thankful. Consider giving a thank you card or expressing thanks in some other meaningful way to those to whom you are thankful.
(As an aside, Thanksgiving has a great tradition in many households. This year, consider starting a tradition of everyone sharing one thing they are thankful for before starting into the meal. And then give thanks to God for those blessings as grace before the meal.)
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