Happy Thanksgiving: the quarantined edition
Do we practice thankfulness correctly? Although we are all living through 2020, there is much for us to be thankful. Are we doing thankfulness correctly? As my family and I are on day three (3) of quarantine due to exposure, I cannot help but to think if we are exercising thankfulness well. Three questions to ask when considering a correct thankfulness:
I am thankful, but to WHOM? Thanksgiving is easy for most to look someone in the eyes, call or text someone and let them know how much we appreciate them. Others are reminded of the difficult people that can make holidays not as joyful. We are left with people being the object of our thankfulness, but wrongly placed. The “WHOM” we are thankful is the ONE that is responsible. Who is responsible for the wonderful people, resourcing, health, etc. in your life? The famous Doxology reminds us, “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow, praise Him, all creatures here below.”
I am thankful, but HOW? Thanksgiving is an expression of gratitude from the heart and experiences of life, so … it is an expression. If thankfulness is never expressed then thanksgiving is never experienced. I share thanksgiving with others and my Creator by expressing it through action and verbalizing it. 2 Samuel 22: 50 states, “Therefore, I will GIVE thanks to You, O Lord, among the nations, and I will sing praises to Your name.”
I am thankful, but for WHAT? Thankfulness is yet another way to be a witness for Jesus. When we are properly exercising thankfulness then we are directing our attentions toward Him. When others hear our thanks then inevitably they hear about our Jesus. Not only does a correctly postured thanks direct attention to Jesus, but a heart of thanksgiving also creates a person that cannot stop talking about Him. When you are so thankful for what He has done in your life, you simply talk to others about it. Luke 2: 38 states, “At that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak of Him to all those who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem.”
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david evans is the Senior Pastor for Springfield Baptist church. Feel free to contact David by visiting the church’s website: www.Springfield-Baptist.com. In the meantime, for Great Commission ideas check out other ideas in other blogs found on this site. Thank you for visiting!