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Philippians 4:6-7 “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Which day of Thanksgiving week do you like the most, Thursday or Friday? Are you happier feeling gratitude or shopping? Thanksgiving is not a one-day holiday or a time of year but a continuing action and attitude of our incomparable gratitude for a Savior and the blessings He has given us.
Ephesians 2: 8 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” Faith is a belief system but it is also a feeling. It is an emotional belief that requires greater strength than simply possessing knowledge.
The Bible states in John 3: 16 “Whosoever believes in Him.” That is a complete statement to insure eternal life. But is that belief with the mind or is it an emotional belief? And, is there a difference that can be separated outside the individual heart and mind? “Whosoever” includes every living soul on the face of the earth! Jesus stated in John 3: 17 “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
” The words “the world” in that verse from the Book of John appears to leave out no one willing to believe, repent and confess that Jesus is Lord and through Him and only Him can we be saved (Philippians 2: 10-11). Romans 10: 9-10 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
” Notice in the last line of verse ten above that man believes with the heart but salvation is acquired through confession. Confession includes both confession of our sins (Romans 3: 23) and also belief in the Lord Jesus as crucified for the remission of sin and resurrected. To confess/admit/state we believe is a requirement for salvation.
Romans 1: 16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” It is only by His spilt blood we have remission of sin. Hebrews 9: 22 “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.
” Books have been written and sermons preached on the horrors of the process of scourging and crucifixion. For an American (and most in the free world) that has quick access to emergency rooms and pain killing drugs the pain is unimaginable inflicted by crucifixion. John 15: 13 “Greater love hath no man than this; that a man lay down his life for his friends.
” We mere mortals think of our friends as being a select few. Jesus on the other hand, regarded all the world as His friends because He created us. (John 1: 3, Colossians 1: 16).
God Jesus even created the non-believer. That is why He commanded us to “preach this Gospel to all nations.” The connection that exists between Jesus and His creation is not within the comprehension of the human mind.
James 2: 18 “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” We are not commanded to do good works. We know (Ephesians 2: 8) we are saved by grace through faith.
Works demonstrate our faith and it also demonstrates our gratitude for what God Jesus has done for us. To serve the Lord is an honor and a privilege. He has been so good to us.
How can we not show our thankfulness through our actions? Acts of service will not buy us a one way ticket to Heaven and we do not expect them to. Our service to God is a blessing to ourselves and those we serve. The question of “callings” in the Christian faith has been one of intrigue to many.
All I can offer is my own thoughts and I’ve had the belief for many years; if God provides an opportunity, that’s a calling. Yes, giving thanks is definitely an action but it is also an attitude. Just as Romans 10: 10 states “with the heart man believeth unto righteousness,” with the heart man also gives thanks.
1 Chronicles 16:34 "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever" God is never going to stop loving you. Once you believe and His spirit enters in to you (Matthew 3: 11), you are His for all eternity (John 10: 28-29). Our greatest action of thanksgiving after our own confession and repentance is to tell someone about the saving power of our Lord Jesus.
The scriptures have proven themselves true over and over. There is no room for doubt; there is only acceptance and sharing. A life of humility and thanksgiving is essential.
God does not want an arrogant, dogmatic Christian sharing Him with the world. 1 Peter 3: 15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” Van Yandell is a retired Industrial Arts teacher, an ordained gospel evangelist and commissioned missionary.
His email: [email protected].
