And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Colossians 3:15

This is the time of year we set aside a day and give thanks for our blessings. Who could want for a more useful holiday? We need to realize that everything we have and enjoy comes from God.

I. We Should be Thankful for Temporal Blessings.

a. Family – parents, children, grandparents, friends, godly influences.

b. Health – ability to work, our vision, hearing, our ability to move about.

c. Material things – church, home, cars, job, food.

d. Freedom – to worship, of speech, to travel.

II. We Should be Thankful for Eternal Blessings.

a. Forgiveness – grace, justification, imputed righteousness, adoption.

b. Indwelling presence – our God lives in us. We are His temple. He is our Friend, our Shepherd!

c. Love and joy and peace and the fruits of the Spirit. {They are a proof of His indwelling}.

d. Deliverance from sin and hell. Salvation is deliverance.

Deliverance from this present evil world.  We are pilgrims and strangers here.

Deliverance from the power of darkness. We can walk a new way. Live a new life.

Deliverance from the wrath to come. He paid our sin debt. The wrath we deserved was poured out on Jesus.

e. Home in Heaven. “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” {John 14:2}

A warning:

If we allow ourselves to become envious or bitter or covetous we will not be thankful.

Don’t forget to count your blessings.

Being unthankful is a base sin like pride, it starts a people on the road to ruin. “…when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful;” {Romans 1:21}

I thank my Lord and Saviour for all of His goodness to me.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Shawn