When we turn our calendar pages to the month of November, we are conscious that it is the month of our national Thanksgiving Day.
Somewhere in our observance may be the reminder that it has its roots in our Pilgrim forebears who in 1621 held a three-day festival of gratitude. While the example set by the Pilgrims can motivate us to a period of giving thanks to God, the example of Christ furnishes us with an even greater example.
Giving thanks is a Christlike practice. He is on record in the New Testament expressing thankfulness often.
Mealtimes
One of the best-known miracles of Jesus was when He took a lad’s simple lunch and after giving thanks, miraculously fed a crowd of 5,000. John 6:11 describes that event, saying, “Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down.” Down through the centuries, followers of Christ have preceded their taking of food by a time of giving thanks.
The Bible exhorts believers to give thanks not only at mealtimes but to make the practice of thanksgiving a part of all our praying, saying, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” (Phil. 4:6). The Psalms talk to us about “[coming] before His presence with thanksgiving” (95:2), as well as encouraging worshippers to “enter into His gates with thanksgiving” (100:4).
According to Matthew 26:26, at the Last Supper, “Jesus took bread and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to His disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is My body.’” Then in a similar manner, “He took the cup, and when He had given thanks, He gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins’” (vv. 27–28).
All our prayers
The Gospels leave us with the clear impression that Jesus was a thankful person.
In the likeness of His example, the Bible exhorts us to make thankfulness a part of all our praying. In addition to Philippians 4:6, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 admonishes, “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Ephesians 5:20 speaks about thanksgiving all the time for all things when it says, “giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Share with others: