The following article appeared in the Lancaster church of Christ (Lancaster, CA) bulletin November 25, 1984. There was no name, but it is still thought provoking. (Richard)
By now you have heard me express my protest to the commercialism of our times that has us, counting the days until Christmas, instead of counting our blessings day by day. Even though my favorite holiday is Thanksgiving, it’s Thanksliving that’s important.
True Thanksliving gives thanks even in the midst of trials, Daniel 6:10 says “Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, (that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days … he shall be cast into the den of lions), he went into his house; and, his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.”
Constant Thanksliving not only gives thanks for the Lord’s supper on the Lord’s day, (Luke22:19; Matthew 26:27: Acts 20:7), but gives thanks for each daily meal, (Mark 8:6; Luke 11:3: Acts 27:35; Romans 14:6; I Timothy 4:3 & 4). Why are we ashamed to give thanks for our food in public or too busy in the privacy of our own homes? We owe it to God! Psalms 50:14 “Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most high.”
Consistent thanksliving will make one more thankful. E. O. Excell reminds us “Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.” Consistent thanksliving will make one more hopeful. Read what the apostle Paul said to the Philippian Christians, Philippians 1:3, 19-26. Consistent Thanksliving will make one more faithful. I’m convinced the amount of Thanksgiving in our lives bespeaks of our belief in God! If I give credit to my own ingenuity, for what is there to be thankful? If however as James 1:17 tells us that “All good things come from God,” then if I believe the Word, I will be consistently thankful!
As we enjoy this holiday season let us reflect on such scriptures as (Psalms 100; 103; I Corinthians 15:54-58; II Corinthians 9:11-15; Ephesians 5:20; I Thessalonians 5:18), and realize, for the child of God, Thanksgiving is Thanksliving!
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