Give thanks to God
Ps: 95
1. Deuteronomy 8:11-18
2. Luke 17:11-19
Illustratioin
One afternoon a shopper at the local mall felt the need
for a coffee break. She bought herself a little bag of
cookies and put them in her shopping bag. She then got in
line for coffee, found a place to sit at one of the
crowded tables, and then taking the lid off her coffee and
taking out a magazine she began to sip her coffee and
read. Across the table from her a man sat reading a
newspaper.
After a minute or two she reached out and took a cookie.
As she did, the man seated across the table reached out
and took one too. This put her off, but she did not say
anything.
A few moments later she took another cookie. Once again
the man did so too. Now she was getting a bit upset, but
still she did not say anything.
After having a couple of sips of coffee she once again
took another cookie. So did the man. She was really
upset by this - especially since now only one cookie was
left. Apparently the man also realized that only one
cookie was left. Before she could say anything he took
it, broke it in half, offered half to her, and proceeded
to eat the other half himself. Then he smiled at her and,
putting the paper under his arm, rose and walked off.
Was she steamed. Her coffee break ruined, already
thinking ahead of how she would tell this offense to her
family, she folded her magazine, opened her shopping bag,
and there discovered her own unopened bag of cookies.
Thanksgiving is a time of the year that should bring us to the place where realize that everything that we have comes from one source – God! When we confess Him with our mouths and believe Him with our hearts we come to the proper attitude that we need to have in order to worship.
1. Giving Thanks for God’s goodness (Deuteronomy 8:11-18)
God reminds His people of how He had looked after them in the wilderness. He reminds them of the manna that He fed them with (vs 3) and how their clothes did not wear out and their feet did not swell up (vs 4). From verse 6-9, God then paints a beautiful picture of all the blessings and wealth that awaited them in the Promised Land. From verse 11-18 however, He warns them not to forget His goodness, once they begin to enjoy those same blessings. He says, “Be careful that you don’t forget the Lord your God” (8:11) and warns them in verse 17, ‘you may say to yourself,” My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me”. In fact, the word ‘forget’ is mentioned 3 times and the word ‘remember’ once, in that portion of scripture.
The day before Thanksgiving one of the teachers at the elementary school asked the students to write a paragraph on what they were thankful for this Thanksgiving. Little Joey thought and thought and there was no way he could come up with a whole paragraph. His teacher gave him a break since it was the last day of school and a holiday to boot, so she said that he could just write one sentence.
After much thought Joey came up with this gem. “I’m thankful that I am not a turkey on Thanksgiving.”
2. Giving Thanks to God’s for His works. (Luke 17:11-19)
Ten lepers came to Jesus When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.
3. Giving Thanks for God’s for grace. (Ephesians 2:8).
‘For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God’
Illustration
Some years ago, in Germany, a young man lay upon the operating table of hospital. A skilled surgeon stood near, a group of students round about. Presently, bending over the patient, the surgeon said: "My friend, if you wish to say anything, you now have the opportunity, but I must warn you that your words will be the last words that you will ever utter. (He had cancer of the tongue.) Think well, therefore, what you wish to say." You can readily imagine that such a statement at such a time would give pause to anyone. The young man therefore waited, apparently lost in deep thought. A deep solemnity settled over the faces of the onlookers. What words would he choose for such an occasion? The students bent eagerly forward. Some time passed, and then the lips at last parted, and at the sound of his voice you could have seen tears swim in the eyes of those present: "Thank God, Jesus
Conclusion
1. for God’s goodness
2. for His works
3. for His grace
