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&
Brooksyne Weber
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Tuesday,
November 22, 2022
"Thankfulness
Matters"
Message
summary: Our
thankfulness matters to
God. For all of His
blessings bestowed upon
the human race but most
of all let us be
thankful for the
spiritual blessings we
have in Christ. We are
children of the King!
And that's the best of
all and something we can
all by faith share. Have
you placed your faith in
Christ today? Are you
expressing thankfulness
day by day?
Listen
"He threw himself at
Jesus' feet and
thanked Him" (Luke
17:16).
Many
years ago there was a
popular bumper sticker
that asked, "Have you
hugged your kid today?"
It was intended to
remind parents of the
importance of showing
affection to their
children. But once I saw
a bumper sticker that
asked, "Have you
thanked God today?"
I believe that's a great
question!
Ingratitude is one of the most dominant and universal sins in the human race. The Apostle Paul, in his panoramic view of human depravity in Romans 1 makes this statement, "They neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him" (Romans 1:21). Among the attitudes described in the last days Paul lists "ungrateful" in 2 Timothy 3:2.
In a verse dealing with common grace* Jesus taught that God is "kind to the ungrateful and wicked" (Luke 6:35). This can be observed as we note the outpouring of God's kindness upon a world that is overwhelmingly ungrateful. The basic needs and blessings of life in air, water, food, favorable climate and so forth have been abundantly poured out even on the most ungrateful and wicked by a kind, benevolent God.
But thankfulness matters to God and Jesus used a real experience from a healing miracle to emphasize this. He had healed ten lepers but only one returned to thank Him. (Luke 17:11-19)
Many
years ago there was a
popular bumper sticker
that asked, "Have you
hugged your kid today?"
It was intended to
remind parents of the
importance of showing
affection to their
children. But once I saw
a bumper sticker that
asked, "Have you
thanked God today?"
I believe that's a great
question!Ingratitude is one of the most dominant and universal sins in the human race. The Apostle Paul, in his panoramic view of human depravity in Romans 1 makes this statement, "They neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him" (Romans 1:21). Among the attitudes described in the last days Paul lists "ungrateful" in 2 Timothy 3:2.
In a verse dealing with common grace* Jesus taught that God is "kind to the ungrateful and wicked" (Luke 6:35). This can be observed as we note the outpouring of God's kindness upon a world that is overwhelmingly ungrateful. The basic needs and blessings of life in air, water, food, favorable climate and so forth have been abundantly poured out even on the most ungrateful and wicked by a kind, benevolent God.
But thankfulness matters to God and Jesus used a real experience from a healing miracle to emphasize this. He had healed ten lepers but only one returned to thank Him. (Luke 17:11-19)
In
response to this Jesus
asked three questions.
1)
"Were not all ten
cleansed?
2)
Where are the other
nine?
3)
Was no one found to
return and give
praise to God except
this foreigner?"
As I read these questions I try to get a sense of the tone in our Lord's voice. It could be read with terse disbelief at such ingratitude. It could be read with anger. But I believe Jesus expressed a deep sadness as He asked these questions (for which He surely already knew the answers).
I
want to be like the one
that returned.
Picture the wonderful
scene as this man "came
back, praising God in
a loud voice. He threw
himself at Jesus' feet
and thanked Him--and
he was a Samaritan."
Although I've never had
the physical affliction
of leprosy I am aware of
God's abundant blessings
in so many areas of my
life.But most of all I'm thankful for the spiritual blessings I have in Christ, first and foremost I've been saved and I am a child of the King! That's the greatest blessing of all and something we can all by faith share with others. Have you placed your faith in Christ today? Are you expressing thankfulness day by day? Thankfulness matters to God!
Thank
You Jesus for the
blood applied
Thank You Jesus, it has washed me white
Thank You Jesus, You have saved my life
Brought me from the darkness into glorious light
Thank You Jesus, it has washed me white
Thank You Jesus, You have saved my life
Brought me from the darkness into glorious light
Be
encouraged today, (Hebrews
3:13)
Stephen
& Brooksyne
Weber
Daily
prayer:
Father, I want
to express my
gratitude for
all the
marvelous
blessings I
enjoy daily.
You abundantly
supply me with
so many
gracious
blessings that
I don't even
give thought
to the
majority of
them. I thank
You not only
for what
You've done
for me but
what You've
done in me.
You
transformed a
life that was
lost. You
turned my
sorrow into
joy. You
exchanged my
sin for grace.
You replaced
my
condemnation
with
forgiveness.
In
thanksgiving
may I be a
person of
thanksliving;
living daily
with a heart
of thanks for
Your
immeasurable
and
inexhaustible
goodness to me
each new day.
* Common grace includes all the undeserved blessings that natural man receives from the hand of God: rain, sun, prosperity, health, happiness, natural capacities and gifts, sin being restrained from complete dominion, etc. See this article.
Today's
Suggested
Music and Supplemental
Resources
"Thank
You Jesus For
The Blood"
Video
Charity Gayle
"Psalm
24"
Video
This is the
version the
choir and
orchestra from
our church
presented this
last
Sunday.
(Note:
the volume is
low in the
beginning)
"Child
Of The King"
Video
Gaither Vocal
Band We will
be going to a
concert with
the Vocal band
and other
Gaither
friends on
December 1 at
the Giant
Center in
Hershey, PA
"I
Got Saved"
Video
Selah
Special
Thanksgiving
Resources
As we have for many years we want to offer these resources to families and church leaders to enrich the spiritual impact of the Thanksgiving holiday. We will leave these resources up till Thanksgiving Day.
As we have for many years we want to offer these resources to families and church leaders to enrich the spiritual impact of the Thanksgiving holiday. We will leave these resources up till Thanksgiving Day.
"Thankful
For The
Thorns": A
family reading
and exercise
that is a
wonderful way
to give a
thoughtful
focus around
your
Thanksgiving
Table. The
Thanksgiving
celebration
typically
includes
family coming
together for a
huge meal and
hopefully a
heartfelt
prayer of
thankfulness.
However it can
often be
difficult to
have a
spiritually
oriented
conversation.
Why not add
some
stimulating
discussion
about the ways
God has worked
in your life
over the past
year! Some of
you are not in
charge and are
only visitors
at your
Thanksgiving
gathering, but
if it is
possible share
together
around the
table the
theme of
"Thankful for
the Thorns" (printable
webpage).
"A Thanksgiving family exercise" (pdf). We have used this questionnaire as a stimulus for discussion among family members in the past in our home. We encourage you to share results around the table at Thanksgiving before or after the meal.
A Thanksgiving prayer: Written by Joe Sherer, a pastor friend of ours and shared as the benediction at our community Thanksgiving Eve service several years ago. (printable webpage) For those who enjoy written prayers this would be a beautiful prayer to read together at the Thanksgiving table.
A Thanksgiving Scripture reading: A selection of Old and New Testament readings dealing with thankfulness appropriate for church, family and personal readings. (pdf) (Suitable for printing out and copying.)
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radioPermissions: Please feel free to pass on, reproduce and distribute any material on Daily Encouragement Net, in part or in whole, in any format, provided that you do not alter the wording in any way or charge a fee beyond the cost of reproduction. It is our desire to spread this material, not protect or restrict it. We do request that you keep the contact, copyright and subscription information intact.
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Scripture references are from The Holy Bible: New International Version. © 1984 by International Bible Society; NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. and the King James Version.
Personal Mission Statement: "I am created by God to bring Him glory. Through God's Son Jesus Christ I have been redeemed and make it my life's goal to please the Lord. My mission in life is to honor God through my faith and obedience and prepare myself and all whom I may influence for eternity."
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