Is Thanksgiving ever strange for anyone else? Like many holidays, it always seems to be more about the food and family than the actual reason for the celebration. Throw in the idea that we should always be thankful combined with the 'forced' or 'expected' thankfulness of the day, and it all just seems insincere somehow.
However, we can't admit that, so we paste on our masks and play the part expected of us, reciting the usual scripts with the usual 'thankful' prayers. But what would it be like if we really were thankful?
Strip away the turkey and gravy and homemade rolls. Take away the family we rarely see. Imagine you still had to go to work and that The Cowboys weren't playing. How thankful are you really? How many of us actually stop and really consider what we have to be thankful for? Especially those of us who recognize that Jesus Christ is Lord?
Check out Luke 17. Jesus heals some lepers. They go off to get declared clean by the priests, but of the 10 only one comes back to say "thank you." Sound familiar? How many of us have been given all sorts of blessing, great and small, and yet rarely give thanks? Don't get all indignent on me, my hand is raised, too.
The fact is that we take a lot for granted that should evoke a far different reaction. Take a look at how the healed leper responded:
(vv. 15-16) "And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks."
Three things I notice here:
1. Jesus is given thanks.
The man recognizes that Jesus is the means by which he was healed. He doesn't just go about life glad to be healed with a generic 'thankfulness' regarding the situation. He knows there is a specific focus for that gratitude, and he directs it accordingly.
Too often we give a generic "thank you, Lord, that my life isn't as bad as it could be," and we move on with life not giving it much more thought. We have received specific blessings; we should give specific thanks.
2. God is given the glory.
Jesus may have been the instrument, but even He admits that He does nothing except what the Father wills. This (former) leper knows where the credit ultimately rests. All good things come from God.
We may thank our boss for the day off or our mom for the fine meal or the Cowboys for winning (or at least playing) a game, but ultimately where did that blessing, comfort and joy in our life originate? If our answer is anything but "God" (or any other biblical synonym thereof) then we are simply and plainly WRONG!
Any good thing in your life you owe directly to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, God Almighty, Creator of the Universe, Yahweh, Adonai, Jehovah .... you get the idea. Give credit where it is due, and ALL the credit is due to our Heavenly Father.
3. The man is overcome with gratitide.
Have you ever been so grateful that you were hysterical with expressing it? Have you ever seen anyone that overcome? What would it take for you to throw yourself at someone's feet and give thanks?
Think of all the courtroom drama we've seen on the news lately. How do the people react when found "not guilty"? Imagine you're on trial for murder or bank robbery. You're looking at life in prison, maybe the death penalty. How would YOU feel when that jury proclaims, "not guilty"? You'd freak! Jump for joy? Dance a jig? Shout? Give a loud, "YES!" ... maybe even a "Thank you, Lord!"? Would you fall on your knees? Cry tears of happiness?
Too often we fail to realize that that is EXACTLY what has happened! We are criminals and rebels ... enemies of God. Yet, He chose to give us mercy. Jesus Christ paid our fine for us. He traded places with us. Where before we were full of sin, deserving of judgment, Jesus was sinless and full of righteousness. Now that we have repented and are trusting in Christ, when God looks Christ He sees the cross (justice served), and when He looks at us, He sees Christ's sinless righteousness.
THAT is what we need to remember to be thankful for. And yes, since all good things come from our Father above, let us be grateful as well for the blessing of our family, our rest from work, and even for the Cowboys.
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