Thankfulness
		By national custom, tomorrow is “Thanksgiving” day. We realize, of course, that every day ought to be a day of thanksgiving to God. But at this season of the year our attention is called to it, so we take advantage of the opportunity to focus on thankfulness as we find it in the word of God.
	Jesus certainly set the example in giving thanks. Before He fed the five thousand, He gave thanks for the bread and fish (John 6:11). As He was about to raise Lazarus out of the tomb, Jesus thanked the Father for hearing Him (John 11:41). And, at the Last Supper with His disciples, He gave thanks for the bread and the cup (Luke 22:17, 19).
	Thankfulness to God ought to be standard operating procedure for Christians. In stark contrast to a host of wicked behaviors, Christians are to give thanks (Ephesians 5:3, 4 “But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks”). Similarly, Philippians 4:6 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Colossians 3:17 makes it universal: “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”
	The unbelieving world is routinely lacking in the giving of thanks. That should not surprise us – why would someone who doesn’t believe give thanks to God? Paul described the Gentiles of the ancient world this way: “because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened” (Romans 1:21). Paul warned of a perilous time that was approaching when people would be “lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unforgiving, slanderers, without self control, brutal, despisers of good . . .” (2 Timothy 3:2). Our task is not to rail against an unbelieving, unthankful world; that accomplishes virtually nothing. Rather, let us glorify God by giving thanks and by teaching those around us of the true and living God to whom they ought to be giving thanks.
	--Joe Slater (Justin, TX)