FBC Daily Devotions

Read Matthew 14:19; Luke 22:17-19; 24:30.

For most people, giving thanks before a meal is commonplace. It is as natural as eating. Food is a necessity, and something that Jesus speaks of as being provided by God in His care for us. So giving thanks – “saying grace” – before a meal is an important moment of appreciation to God. I mention in the title that we are to give thanks for the little things. But food is actually not a little thing because it is a necessity. It’s a major thing, but one that can become a little thing because it is so readily available to most of us.  That which is common, if we aren’t careful, can be taken for granted.

To consider: There are many common graces that might fall into that category. Things that God provides so consistently and abundantly that we can take it for granted – shelter, transportation, hot water (water for that matter), shoes, and so on. Make it your mission today to look at those kinds of things in your life and give thanks along the way. And at the end of the day, take some time to look back and give God thanks for all of these big things that may have become little things.

Read Ephesians 5:20.

This week I did a word search on “thanks” in the New Testament. I made one very interesting observation. In the numerous occasions for which thanksgiving is mentioned (and there are over 60), every one of them is giving thanks to God. All of them. Not thanks to people, but exclusively to God.

Not that giving thanks to people is at all bad. A healthy expression of appreciation for people and their work says much about how we value one another. Notes and cards of thanks are as common at FBC as coffee in Seattle. But giving thanks is not just a Christian thing.  Surely Christians aren’t the only ones who give out cards. Christians aren’t the only ones who celebrate Thanksgiving.  The heavy emphasis of thanks to God caused me to consider what makes a believer’s thanks different than the world’s? The key difference is seen in the Scriptures.

Clearly throughout the Bible God is seen as the source of all good things. As children of God, everything we have is due to God in our life. Actually, that is true of those who don’t worship God as well – they just don’t realize it or acknowledge it. The marked difference between a child of God and a child of the world is seen in who they give thanks to. Giving thanks to God is at the very core of our life as God’s children. Give thanks to God the Father for everything. That is the mark of the Christian life. If you have time read these verses:

• Colossians 2:7; 3:15, 17; 4:2
• 1 Thess. 5:18
• 2 Corinthians 9:12

To consider:

A gauge of your walk with God might be measured by your thankfulness quotient. How often do you give thanks to God? Outside of prayer before meals (which is important), when do you give thanks to God for something? How often do you thank God throughout the day? The mark of a Christian is a thankful heart. Consider how you can shine the light of thankfulness to God to the world this week.

What are some truths you learned from last Sunday’s message? How can it make a difference this week?

“Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever!”  (Psalm 107:1)

Thanksgiving day is this week, and it is a time when we emphasize thankfulness in our worship service, which then culminates in a bountiful Thanksgiving meal days later (and days after that, too!).  But thankfulness is something Scripture emphasizes for God’s children every day. For us who understand the sustaining providence of God, every day is a gift for which we are to give thanks. This week, while we spend some time thinking about thankful things, let’s remember that this exercise is to go beyond this week, but into our everyday lives. May God bless you with a warm and welcomed Thanksgiving week and a thankful attitude everyday.    –Pastor Mike

Look over your notes from the past week. What one or two things did God impress upon you this week?