Introduction: This week our nation dedicated a day to expressing gratitude. Families gathered to share laughter and good food. The turkeys were roasted and the pumpkin pies were devoured as we celebrated Thanksgiving Day.
I think Thanksgiving should be a time of reflection – a time of looking back over the last twelve months. It needs to be a time for each person to consider his or her reasons for giving thanks to God. Let me share a few of my own thoughts.
A. I have realized God’s grace and mercy.
An old tale speaks of a man who died and faced the angel Gabriel at heaven’s gates. The angel said, "Here’s how this works. You need a hundred points to make it into heaven. You tell me all the good things you have done, and I will give a certain number of points for each of them. The more good there is in the work that you cite, the more points you will get for it. When you get to a hundred points, you get in."
"Okay," the man said, "I was married to the same woman for 50 years and never cheated on her, even in my heart."
Gabriel replied, "That’s wonderful. That’s worth three points."
"Three points?" said the man incredulously. "Well, I attended church all my life and supported its ministry with my money and service."
"Terrific!" said Gabriel, "that’s certainly worth a point."
"One point?" said the man with his eyes beginning to show a bit of panic. "Well, how about this: I opened a shelter for the homeless in my city, and fed needy people by the hundreds during holidays."
"Fantastic, that’s good for two more points," said the angel.
"TWO POINTS!" cried the man in desperation. "At this rate the only way I will get to heaven is by the grace of God."
"Come on in," said Gabriel.
Citation: Bryan Chapell, Holiness By Grace (Crossway Books, 2001), pp. 22-23; used by permission of Crossway Books, a division of Good News Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois 60187, www.crosswaybooks.org © 2001 PreachingToday.com / Christianity Today, International
It’s easy for me to fall into the trap of thinking my good deeds and church work should add up to “one hundred points.” God’s Holy Spirit has been faithful to remind me that no matter how good I may be I am not worthy of Jesus’ death on the Cross. The best I can hope for is becoming more like Jesus in both attitude in action. WHEN I THINK OF GOD’S GRACE AND MERCY I ALMOST SHOUT, “PRAISE THE LORD” FROM THE DEEPEST PART OF WHO I AM.
B. I have received God’s liberation from discouragement and doubt.
“There comes a time when we understand emotionally what we’ve only understood intellectually….” – Dr. James Dobson
This year I faced situations I knew how to handle – at least I had read about them. I have been discouraged and disappointed before in my life. God helped me experience his deliverance then and he came through again this year. There were some days when I wondered what I was doing and why I was here, but God set me free to enjoy a new sense of purpose and confidence in him. There were days when I felt powerless against habits in my life, only to have God step in to show me the way to break out of them. WHEN I THINK OF GOD’S POWER TO SET ME FREE I WANT TO SING, “PRAISE THE LORD, OH MY SOUL!”
C. I have recognized God’s provision for my needs.
There is a freedom that comes from knowing that God is my Provider. He is the One who will supply all that I need. WHEN I TAKE INTO ACCOUNT GOD’S GENEROSITY AND FAITHFUL PROVISION I FEEL LIKE CALLING OUT, “PRAISE THE LORD, OH MY SOUL!”
D. I have remembered how much I need God’s protection.
Life is a miraculous balancing act. Too much of this or too little of that can lead to sickness and even death. Millions die every day because of illness, accident, starvation and violence. The Pilgrims who celebrated the first Thanksgiving Day knew how fragile our lives could be. Nearly half of the original 100 settlers had died of starvation or disease in less than a year.
September 11th was an unwelcome reminder of how uncertain our future really is. There are no guarantees that any of us will live to see the sunrise tomorrow but God has protected me, my family and most of my friends. He has brought us through another year. WHEN I REMEMBER GOD’S CONSTANT PROTECTION I WANT TO PROCLAIM, “PRAISE THE LORD” FROM THE DEEPEST PART OF WHO I AM.
E. I have rejoiced over God’s work in our world and our church.
There have been days filled with heartache this year. Hearing that my mother has cancer was certainly one. Conducting the funeral for John Moseley was another. But I’ve been reminded that pain and grieve often provide God with great opportunities to work.
The hymn, Now Thank We All Our God, was written by a pastor who was in the middle of a year when he held 5,000 funerals because eof famine and war. Listen to the first verse: “Now thank we all our God With hearts and hands and voices, Who wondrous things (has) done, In whom His world rejoices; Who, from our mothers’ arms, (Has) blessed us on our way With countless gifts of love, And still is ours today.” Somehow in the midst of conducting over 13 funerals a day this pastor was able to write a beautiful song of praise and thanks to God. He saw God at work around him even when grief and loss ravaged his world.
God has been working in our world too. In the wake of September 11th, countless men and women around the world have turned to God in prayer. Individuals have become more open to talking about God and how to be ready to meet him.
On a personal level, God has called some of you to pray for my mother. That is a great comfort and encouragement to me.
God also called us to pray as a church. Last June I challenged you to pray that God would make us a church where 5 individuals or families would be changed before September 9th. God changed 36 people in one way of another! Since then we’ve been praying that God would make us a church where 5 teens or adults would receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior by Easter Sunday. So far, I know of one person who has made that kind of commitment (plus 4 kids in Clubhouse).
WHEN I THINK OF GOD’S WORK IN OUR WORLD AND OUR CHURCH I WANT TO SHOUT OUT, “PRAISE THE LORD, OH MY SOUL!”
F. I came to several conclusions as I reflected on God’s blessings.
1. We are what we SEE. If we look at the winds and waves of life we’ll sink and drown. If we focus on Jesus, he will see us through every storm that comes our way.
2. If we lose everything, some one REMAINS. God will never abandon us regardless of our circumstances. Nothing in the universe can separate us from his love!
3. Songs of thanksgiving are written and sung best by those who have experienced pain. The apostle Paul sat in a Roman dungeon and wrote a letter to Christians telling them to “rejoice in the Lord always – again I say rejoice!” Those who have never experienced grief and pain cannot fully appreciate all God’s good gifts.
4. Genuine thanksgiving must be based on God’s loving actions in our lives. And ultimately that will take us to the Cross where Jesus died for us and to the Empty Tomb where he conquered death for us.
Thesis: As I look back over the last twelve months, I must proclaim, “I have something to be thankful for! Praise the Lord, oh my soul!”
Conclusion: Ancient Israel’s King David wrote a psalm of thanksgiving that’s recorded in the Bible. Listen to how he thanked God.
[1] Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
[2] Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits – [3] who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, [4] who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, [5] who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
[6] The LORD works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
[7] He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: [8] The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
[9] He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; [10] he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
[11] For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; [12] as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
[13] As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; [14] for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. [15] As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; [16] the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
[17] But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children – [18] with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.
[19] The LORD has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.
[20] Praise the LORD, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word.
[21] Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.
[22] Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion.
Key Question: What reasons do we have for giving God thanks this year?
Application: I think they are the same ones King David wrote about.
1. We can thank God for FORGIVING us (vs. 3).
2. We can thank God for REDEEMING us (vs. 4).
3. We can thank God for SATISFYING us (vs. 5).
4. We can thank God for KEEPING HIS WORD to us (vs. 6-14).
5. We can thank God for REMEMBERING our frailty (vs. 15-18).
NEXT STEPS: How can we give God the thanks he so richly deserves? What can we do to get started? Let me suggest a few ideas.
1. Use Psalm 103 as a starting point and make a list of the blessings you have experienced this year.
2. Share your list with God out loud in prayer. Or if you prefer, write it out in a letter or poem.
3. Encourage your family to share their lists together around the dinner table one day this week.
Responding to God:
1. Please stand if you are able.
2. Bow your heads and close your eyes so you can focus your attention on God’s Holy Spirit.
3. What about you? How has your year been? Do you really fell that you deserve all of God’s blessings? Can any of us say we are worthy of the sacrifice Jesus made for us? Have you experienced God’s mercy and grace? What struggles and losses have you gone through? How has God helped you? When you think of God’s good gifts are you ready to shout, “Praise the Lord” from the deepest part of who you are?
4. Please accept the invitation to Communion and take time to thank Jesus for sacrificing himself for your sins. When you receive the bread and the cup, thank God for all his blessings?
