Thanksgiving as a Thermometer

It was always a great family time at Thanksgiving at my house as a kid.  I remember arguing over who would get the wishbone from the turkey.  Of course everyone loved the homemade dressing and chunky potatoes with gravy!  It meant Vernors soda over vanilla ice cream as a soothing beverage. I can’t fail to mention the great Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears competing along with a nice nap. The morning always included the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the evening with board games and leftover turkey.   It goes without saying that as a young boy I failed to appreciate the entire four-day weekend for what it was meant to be.  As an adult and as a Christian, Thanksgiving means so much more to me and my family.  The years bring about greater significance as I’ve grown in my understanding of the love and character of our God.

One marker that our dinner was ready was when the thermometer that was stuck in the turkey popped up.  At times I wondered if we had a defective thermometer as I waited with hunger pangs but it always seemed to pop up.  As a parallel thought, I wonder what it would look like if we as Christians had a pop up thermometer placed in us that popped up when we were truly thankful to God.  We might begin to replace some of our thermometers for fear that they weren’t  working properly.  Gratitude is a mark of a healthy and mature believer in Christ.  It is an understanding that God is the giver of every good gift.  It is walking in confidence that we are cared for and loved by the King of kings, the Lord of lords, and the God of all creation.  It is resting in His all-sufficient hand even when we are totally confused.  It is reflected in how we refuse to complain and grumble when things aren’t going our way because our God is in absolute control of the details.  It is knowing that our God withholds no good thing to those who love Him and seek Him.

Strong evidence of our salvation is found in a heart that expresses a life of GREAT gratitude back towards God.  It points others back towards Him because He is the giver of life eternal and an abundant life.  It is a life that expresses grace and generosity towards others because we have been the recipient of such grace and kindness from God.  A life of gratitude conveys that something significant has happened in our lives.  A life of gratitude transforms us into the biggest servants for Him.  Such a life doesn’t allow for a “poor me” mentality.

Listen to how many times “God” and “Christ” are the focus of all our blessings.  1 Corinthians 1:4-9, “I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speaking and in all your knowledge— because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.  Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.  He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.   God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.”

According to these verses, we lack no good thing and we have been enriched in every way! Amen.  LET’S  GIVE GREAT THANKS TOGETHER!