Huntington Church of Christ

In this season of Thanksgiving, we express thanks to our God and Creator for the wonderful bounty He has blessed us with. On the 28th day of this month the vast majority of our community will no doubt offer thanks to God for the necessities of life (food, drink, clothing, shelter), but let us never forget the greater gifts which God has offered to man. Ingratitude is one of the most shameful attitudes exhibited by mankind. In fact, God considers unthankfulness a sin (2 Timothy 3;2).

We must be thankful to God for the gift of salvation (Romans 6:17). "The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23). "For by grace have ye been saved through faith...it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8). God so loved the world that he offered His Son's life and blood for our salvation (John 3:16), but we must accept His gift. We must say "Thank You!" Faith takes hold of God's gift and obeys His commands. The ungrateful person spurns the Father's offer. He says, "Thanks, but No Thanks!" Felix was ungrateful when he said, "Go thy way for this time; and when I have a convenient season, I will call thee unto me" (Acts 24:24,25). If he had been thankful for what was being offered to him, he would have accepted and obeyed.

The Bible teaches that thanksgiving abounds "unto the glory of God" (2 Corinthians 4:15). We are thankful for we "were called in one body" (Colossians 3:15). We are to be thankful to the Father for we can be "partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light" (Colossians 1:12). "Thanks be to God, who always leadeth us in triumph in Christ..." (2 Corinthians 2:14). Are you thankful to God for salvation and eternal life? Then obey His Word! Jesus said, "If ye love me, ye will keep my commandments" (John 14:15)>

Daniel S. Dow
Huntington Church of Christ