As Thanksgiving approaches, we find our thoughts drifting toward this past year, reflecting on God's goodness and the bountiful blessings He has so lavishly bestowed upon us. Whereas I am very grateful for all the natural blessings and benefits I have received from the Lord (and they are numerous), I am even more grateful for spiritual blessings - those blessings that are mine through my union with Christ Jesus. Consider these words penned by the Apostle Paul: "May blessing (praise, laudation, and eulogy) be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual (given by the Holy Spirit) blessing in the heavenly realm! Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, even above reproach, before Him in love. For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]" [So that we might be] to the praise and the commendation of His glorious grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor, which He lavished on us" (Ephesians 1:3-7).
In John 1:16,17, we find this astounding truth: For out of His fullness (abundance) we all received - all had a share and we all were supplied with - one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, and even favor upon favor, and gift [heaped] upon gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, grace - unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing - and truth came through Jesus Christ. What an extremely blessed people we are!
In Psalms 107 verse 1, we are exhorted: O give thanks to the Lord for He is good, and His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever! (Psalms 107:1). The remainder of Psalm 107 speaks of our Beloved God supplying salvation for the lost, deliverance for the captive, healing for the sick and safety for the storm-tossed. I encourage you to read this wonderful Psalm. It will bless your soul, especially if you are in the midst of trying times of trouble or conflict. Know this: There is no trouble, situation or circumstance in life (no matter how difficult they may seem) that can alter the fact that we are blessed. All of us (none exempt) experience difficult places of adversity and trouble as we journey toward eternity; however, we have the assurance that God is our Helper, and that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5,6). We can count Him faithful to walk us through the hard places of life and bring us through to victory. In fact, if we cling to Him in faith, relying upon the assurance of His mighty promises, He will cause us to triumph. Always. We have His word on it (2 Corinthians 2:14).
The lifestyle of God's people is to be one of continually giving thanks; not just during the Thanksgiving season. The Apostle Paul admonishes the Church in Colosse with the following words: "As you have therefore received the Christ, [even] Jesus the Lord. [so] walk - regulate your lives and conduct yourselves - in union with and conformity to Him. Have the roots [of your being] firmly and deeply planted [in Him] - fixed and founded in Him - being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving" (Colossians 2:6, 7). For all that we have now through our redemption that is in Christ Jesus, and all that is yet to come through-out all eternity, how can we not abound with thanksgiving?
Scripture References:
John 1:16-17
Psalms 107
Ephesians 1:1-7
Colossians 2:6-7
2 Corinthians 2:14