Thanksgiving
He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God." Psalm 50:23 (NIV)
I am glad that there are ceremonies, traditions and holidays, especially the ones that recur. They connect our scattered lives to a meaningful whole, and provide an opportunity to contemplate. This week we mark the beginning of what is popularly called the “holiday season”, and there could not be a more appropriate holiday to begin it than Thanksgiving. I am glad that this holiday urges us to pause and give thanks; it causes us to ponder on things we ought to be thankful for, but I think the significance of thanksgiving is much deeper than that. It may not be very obvious, but I suggest that of all the holidays, thanksgiving is perhaps the most deeply religious holiday. I say that because the very act of giving thanks forces the question of sovereignty. Who are we giving thanks to, and why? The moment I thank someone, I am admitting that I am not self-sufficient, that someone else has contributed to my well-being. Thanksgiving is acknowledgement of something “good” and the one who made that good possible.
It is no wonder then that the Bible makes thanksgiving the gateway for Salvation. In Psalm 50, the Psalmist says, “He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God." How does thanksgiving prepare a way for seeing the salvation of God? It is because thanksgiving begins with acknowledgement, and so does salvation. Before any one can accept Jesus Christ, they must be thoroughly convinced about their absolutely hopeless condition. They must acknowledge that they are incapable of coming to God. They must accept that salvation cannot be earned, and confess that without the sacrifice of Jesus they are lost. It is interesting that Bible uses the same word for “thanks” as it does for “confess” Because at the root of both is acknowledgement – of self inability, and God’s ability, of self boorishness and God’s bounty! And the deeper the realization of this, the more intense and real is that giving of thanks. When Revelation gives a picture of Heaven, it tells us that continually in Heaven, sinful men made just gather around the Holy Throne, casting their golden crowns and do not cease from thanking God, and singing “Worthy, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive glory, and honor and praises!”
The distinctive of heaven is that it will be filled with “thankful hearts”. It is because it is a truly thankful heart is a heart that has acknowledged the mercy and goodness of God, and accepted with graciousness the sacrifice that God gave in His only Son, Jesus Christ.
I pray that this thanksgiving, we not only give thanks, but come to a personal realization of the One we are giving thanks to.
Danesh Manik
_____________________________________________
"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ.
If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864
I am glad that there are ceremonies, traditions and holidays, especially the ones that recur. They connect our scattered lives to a meaningful whole, and provide an opportunity to contemplate. This week we mark the beginning of what is popularly called the “holiday season”, and there could not be a more appropriate holiday to begin it than Thanksgiving. I am glad that this holiday urges us to pause and give thanks; it causes us to ponder on things we ought to be thankful for, but I think the significance of thanksgiving is much deeper than that. It may not be very obvious, but I suggest that of all the holidays, thanksgiving is perhaps the most deeply religious holiday. I say that because the very act of giving thanks forces the question of sovereignty. Who are we giving thanks to, and why? The moment I thank someone, I am admitting that I am not self-sufficient, that someone else has contributed to my well-being. Thanksgiving is acknowledgement of something “good” and the one who made that good possible.
It is no wonder then that the Bible makes thanksgiving the gateway for Salvation. In Psalm 50, the Psalmist says, “He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God." How does thanksgiving prepare a way for seeing the salvation of God? It is because thanksgiving begins with acknowledgement, and so does salvation. Before any one can accept Jesus Christ, they must be thoroughly convinced about their absolutely hopeless condition. They must acknowledge that they are incapable of coming to God. They must accept that salvation cannot be earned, and confess that without the sacrifice of Jesus they are lost. It is interesting that Bible uses the same word for “thanks” as it does for “confess” Because at the root of both is acknowledgement – of self inability, and God’s ability, of self boorishness and God’s bounty! And the deeper the realization of this, the more intense and real is that giving of thanks. When Revelation gives a picture of Heaven, it tells us that continually in Heaven, sinful men made just gather around the Holy Throne, casting their golden crowns and do not cease from thanking God, and singing “Worthy, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive glory, and honor and praises!”
The distinctive of heaven is that it will be filled with “thankful hearts”. It is because it is a truly thankful heart is a heart that has acknowledged the mercy and goodness of God, and accepted with graciousness the sacrifice that God gave in His only Son, Jesus Christ.
I pray that this thanksgiving, we not only give thanks, but come to a personal realization of the One we are giving thanks to.
Danesh Manik
_____________________________________________
"A Soul’s Anchor” is a daily inspirational message prepared to challenge your mind, inspire your heart, and motivate you to anchor your soul in the person of Jesus Christ.
If you know a friend who would enjoy receiving "A Soul’s Anchor" in their email box each day, tell them they can sign up by emailing us at subscribe@asoulsanchor.org . The messages may also be read at our website, http://www.asoulsanchor.org. To unsubscribe, please email, unsubscribe@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. To change to a weekly instead of a daily subscription, email weekly@asoulsanchor.org with your email in the subject line. For receiving messages by mail, please write to us at A Soul’s Anchor, India International Church, 3654 Okemos Rd., Okemos, MI 48864
posted by Danesh Manik | 2:58 PM
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