Posted by
ValiantForTruth on Thursday, November 25, 2010 4:58:42 PM
Let it not be said of us that we are not thankful and that we are ignorant of who it is that should receive our thanksgiving. The Pilgrims gave thanks after they had suffered severe hardship and endured the deaths of family and friends. They had ventured all on the hope of the New World and the promises of God’s love for them. How is it that they were able to offer thanksgiving, rather than an offering of bitterness?
Thankfulness is dependent on our world view. Do we know who we are? Do we know why we are here? How can we know truth about these things?
The creation reveals the glory of God, and man is the apex of the creation since he bears the image of God and was given dominion over the creation.
Although all men know God from His works in creation, they do not all glorify Him nor acknowledge Him as their God and bestow upon Him the honor and praise they own Him. Nor do they return thanks to Him for the blessings they are constantly receiving. But though there are indeed blessings that are common to all men, gratitude in return for them is not…
Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.” [Luke 17:11-19]
May our thankfulness be according to knowledge. If we have the gift of faith, then let us thank God for His mercy. He has saved us from a life of discontent and bitterness. He has given us every spiritual blessing in Christ.